The new federal government says the "twilight years" of Queen Elizabeth's reign are an appropriate time to reignite debate about Australia becoming a republic.
Labor wants to hold a fresh referendum on ditching the monarchy and adopting Australia's own head of state. but not until its second term in office, if it wins the 2025 election.
The discussion comes as celebrations ramp up around the world for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years on the throne, and more than two decades after the failed republic referendum.
Assistant Minister for the Republic Matt Thistlethwaite said support for a republic might grow after the monarch, 96, dies.
"As the Queen comes to the twilight of her reign, we can appropriately — and we should — pay respect to her for the wonderful job that she's done," he said.
"But I think Australians are now beginning to start to think about what comes next for our country.
"We're an independent nation. We have our own unique identity and culture. We're an economic powerhouse in the Asia Pacific, and I think it's time that we start the serious conversation once again about what comes next for Australia after Queen Elizabeth's reign ends."
Mr Thistlethwaite said he recognised that the issue had not been on the agenda for many years.
"There [is] a whole generation of Australians, newly arrived migrants, who don't understand this issue," he said.
"My role is very much one of education in the initial stages: explaining to people that we do have a foreign monarch as our head of state, we have a proxy representative in the Governor-General, but that we can have an Australian as our head of state."
Many 'still scarred' by last referendum
Just after being sworn into the ministry on Wednesday, Mr Thistlethwaite could be heard telling Governor-General David Hurley "your tenure is safe with us" as he shook the Queen's representative's hand and posed for photos.
In opposition, Mr Thistlethwaite has served as shadow assistant minister for the republic since 2019.
The last time Australians were asked whether the country should become a republic was in 1999, but the proposal did not get enough support, largely around dissatisfaction for the model being proposed.
Under the Constitution, a referendum is only successful if two benchmarks are met: more than half of the Australian voting population must vote in favour of the plan, and a majority of voters in four out of six states must also agree.
The views of voters in the ACT and the Northern Territory only count towards the national majority.
In 1999, only the ACT recorded a majority of votes in favour of dumping the monarchy.
Mr Thistlethwaite conceded there were deep flaws with the republic model put to the Australian people more than two decades ago, where the Governor-General would have been replaced by a President, appointed by federal parliament.
"Many of us are still scarred by that," Mr Thistlethwaite said.
"I was certainly involved in the '99 campaign. It was one of the first things I was involved in as a political movement as a youngster.
The Assistant Minister added that Australia could still remain part of the Commonwealth of Nations, even if it moved towards a new model.
"Of the 54 Commonwealth nations, 34 of them are republics — so Australia is very much in the minority," Mr Thistlethwaite said.
"Last year, Barbados moved to become a republic. They did that in cooperation with the royal family and members of the royal family attended the handing-over ceremony.
"I want to make that a focus for us doing this, in cooperation with the British government, with the royal family, using it as a force that unites Australians around a better future and having one of our own as our head of state."
Reaction to Mr Thistlethwaite's appointment had been divided.
The Australian Republic Movement (ARM) was thrilled there was now a voice in government advocating for a post-monarchy Australia.
"This is the best news for the Australian Republic Movement in nigh on a quarter-century," ARM chair Peter FitzSimons said.
"We have the wind in our sails. The timing is perfect. We are on our way."
However, the Australian Monarchist League said the nation had already voted against becoming a republic, and described Mr Thistlethwaite's appointment's as a "clear lack of respect" for the Australian people.
