Australia proclaims King Charles III as head of state
We will wrap up the live blog for today.
King Charles III has been recognised as Australia’s head of state after a meeting of the federal executive council and a ceremony outside Parliament House on Sunday.
The ceremony outside Parliament House included the national anthem and a welcome to country. After the governor general, David Hurley’s, proclamation of King Charles III, there was a performance of God Save The King, followed by an Indigenous spiritual dance, and a 21-gun salute.
Similar ceremonies in the states came afterwards.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, and Hurley will travel to the United Kingdom on Thursday for the memorial service for Queen Elizabeth II. Australia will be assisting Pacific island nations with ties to the Commonwealth to travel to the ceremony.
Once they return the next Wednesday, there will be a national day of mourning on Thursday 22 September. The day will be a one-off public holiday that has been agreed upon by all states and territories.
Albanese has hosed down talk of Australia becoming a republic in this term of parliament, reiterating the government’s policy to hold a referendum in the second term of an Albanese Labor government.
We will be back again tomorrow. Until then, I hope you have a pleasant evening.
Updated
It was a privilege to participate in the Proclamation of King Charles III in my capacity as member of the Executive Council today.
— Senator Penny Wong (@SenatorWong) September 11, 2022
A historic moment as we welcome Australia’s new head of state and prepare to formally honour the life and service of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. pic.twitter.com/fOXrokd1uL
