Thursday, 31 October 2024

Royal visit

Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (21:45): (1245) My adjournment matter to the Premier concerns the recent successful visit of the King and Queen of Australia and the profound impact this visit had on our nation. The success of King Charles and Queen Camilla’s royal tour of Australia was clear: many thousands representing Australians from all walks of life, ages and backgrounds gathered to greet their majesties with enthusiasm and pride across their five-day tour. This warm reception sends a clear message: we are proud of our sovereign, our traditions and our history. Recent polling reveals that King Charles now enjoys a job approval rating of 50 per cent, surpassing that of Prime Minister Albanese, who stands at 44 per cent. Clearly Australians have greater faith in and fondness for our King than our own Aussie leader.

Across more than 30 official engagements in Sydney and Canberra tens of thousands of Australians turned out to welcome their majesties. A particularly memorable moment was the 10,000-strong crowd at the Sydney Opera House, where the atmosphere was filled with patriotism and celebration. I would like to take this opportunity to commend the Australian Monarchist League for their contribution, handing out 15,000 Australian flags, fostering a true spirit of unity in national pride.

On a personal note, I was honoured to provide international commentary during the visit, joining platforms such as BBC World News, Good Morning Britain, Sky News UK, the front page of the Daily Mirror UK and even radio in Hong Kong.

A remarkable aspect of this tour was the dedication and resilience shown by King Charles and Queen Camilla, who despite their years conducted themselves with unwavering enthusiasm, grace and dignity. The King, showing his deep sense of duty, even paused his weekly cancer treatments to ensure he could meet Australians on his first Commonwealth trip as head of state.

For King Charles this was his 17th official visit to Australia but his first as sovereign, making it especially historic. This tour also had personal resonance, recalling his formative years at Timbertop, the rural campus of Geelong Grammar School in my electorate. His bond with Australia has been shaped over decades, and this visit highlighted that enduring connection.

The action that I seek from the Premier is to ensure that King Charles is personally invited by the Victorian government to visit our state, as is customary, honouring what the royal tour has proven: the enduring value of a constitutional monarchy.