Australia announced to remove images of Queen Elizabeth form currency

In order to commemorate and celebrate the history of its Indigenous culture, Australia will replace the image of Queen Elizabeth II on the Australian $5 bill with a new design, the nation's central bank announced on Thursday.

The federal government, which supports the change, was consulted before the decision was made, according to a statement from the Reserve Bank of Australia. The Australian Parliament will still be visible on the note's reverse side, it claimed.

Queen Elizabeth, who died last year, has reignited debate in Australia about the country's future as a constitutional monarchy.

King Charles III, who succeeded his mother as the monarch of the United Kingdom, serves mostly in a ceremonial capacity as the head of state of Australia, New Zealand, and 12 other Commonwealth nations outside of the United Kingdom.

In September 2022, Australia stated that Queen Elizabeth's portrait would not necessarily replace that of King Charles on AU$5 notes and that she might be replaced with Australian figures.

According to authorities, the queen's personality was chosen for the $5 Australian note rather than her standing as the monarch.

The choice to update the note comes as Australia's center-left Labor government pushes for a referendum that would be necessary to change the constitution in order to include recognition of Indigenous people in the text and mandate consultation with them when making decisions that will have an impact on their lives.

Australia officially changed its national anthem in 2021 to remove the phrase "young and free" in response to calls to acknowledge that its Indigenous people are the world's oldest civilization.

Indigenous organizations would be consulted throughout the creation of the AU$5 notes, according to the Reserve Bank. The new banknote will be designed and printed over the course of several years. The existing Note shall remain outstanding until paid in full.