The Australian government has indicated that it has put on hold a proposal to hold a vote on removing King Charles III as its head of state.
It is a longstanding policy of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to hold a referendum on becoming a republic.
But a minister has told local media that such a vote is “not a priority” and there is “no timeline” for it.
The government last week said it was expecting a visit from the king “later this year”.
The prime minister enjoyed a “warm relationship” with Charles, a government spokesperson said in a statement to The Australian. Buckingham Palace is yet to confirm the trip.
The comments follow last year’s defeat for the government in a separate referendum, in which Australians overwhelmingly rejected a plan to give greater political rights to Indigenous people.
All six states voted against a proposal to amend the constitution to recognise First Nations people. Proponents said this would have ushered in a new era, but opponents called it divisive.
