Australia is removing British monarchy from its bank notes

By NICK PERRY and ROD McGUIRK
Associated Press

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia is removing the British monarchy from its bank notes. The nation’s central bank said Thursday its new $5 bill would feature an Indigenous design rather than an image of King Charles III. But the king is still expected to appear on coins. The $5 bill was Australia’s only remaining bank note to still feature an image of the monarch. The bank said the decision followed consultation with the government, which supported the change. Opponents say the move is political. The governing center-left Labor Party wants to make Australia a republic with an Australian as head of state instead of the British monarch.