Show respect, Aussies told
2005-02-27 10:52
Sydney - Federal Treasurer and leading republican Peter Costello urged Australians Sunday to show Prince Charles respect a day before the heir to the British throne arrives in the country.
Costello, successor designate to monarchist Prime Minister John Howard, said Prince Charles should be given a warm reception because he would also become the king of Australia.
"We must pay him respect, because he will be the king of Australia," Costello told television station the Nine Network's Sunday program.
Prince Charles's five-day visit and his upcoming nuptials have reignited debate in Australia about whether it should ditch its two century old ties to the British monarch, who remains its titular head of state.
He will arrive in the West Australian state capital of Perth on Monday -unaccompanied by Camilla Parker Bowles, whom he is due to marry on April 8.
It will be his 13th visit to Australia, but his first since a 1994 trip which was marred by a security scare when a student protestor fired a starter's pistol at him.
Although polls have routinely shown majority support for a republic, a 1999 referendum to decide if it should become a republic was won by the monarchist cause because of divisions in the republican movement over the sort of republic they wanted.
'Entitled to a visit'
A new poll published on Sunday by News Ltd newspapers showed support up from 53% to 57% when people considered Charles becoming the next head of state with Parker Bowles as his wife.
Costello said his views on the issue of a republic were well known, but he added: "If people want to think about the arrangements in a new light, they can do so, I suppose.
"But under the current constitutional arrangements, we can't pretend (the visit) has nothing to do with us.
"He is entitled to visit. Here is the heir to our throne. He wants to visit here. And he should be given a good reception."
Prince Charles, who spent two terms as an exchange student at the exclusive Geelong Grammar School near Melbourne in the 1960s, will also visit Alice Springs in central Australia, Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra.
"I know that Australians will welcome His Royal Highness with the warmth for which they are renowned," Howard said in a statement announcing the visit.
Opposition Labour leader Kim Beazley, who is also a republican, said he was looking forward to meeting Prince Charles if the opportunity arose during his visit to Perth this week.
"I've met him on numerous occasions and I find him a very nice man," Beazley said. "I look forward to an opportunity for a quick chat with him, but I certainly hold to the view that Australia needs its own head of state."
He also praised Queen Elizabeth II and supported her role as head of the Commonwealth.