AUSTRALIA - Removes British Monarch from Banknotes
Australia will remove the British monarch from its banknotes, replacing the late Queen Elizabeth II’s image on its $5 note with a design honoring Indigenous culture.
The decision to leave her successor King Charles III off the $5 note means no monarch would remain on Australia’s paper currency.
Australia is a constitutional monarchy, a democracy with King Charles III as its head of state. A referendum proposing a switch to a republic was narrowly defeated in 1999.
The new banknote would take “a number of years” to be designed and printed, it said, with the existing $5 note remaining legal tender even after the new design is in people’s hands.
“Australia believes in meritocracy so the idea that someone should be on our currency by birthright is irreconcilable, as is the notion that they should be our head of state by birthright,” said Australian Republic Movement chair Craig Foster.
“To think that an unelected king should be on our currency in place of First Nations leaders and elders and eminent Australians is no longer justifiable at a time of truth-telling, reconciliation and ultimately formal, cultural and intellectual independence.”
-news.yahoo.com, 2 February 2023
Arno's Commentary
Recognizing the original inhabitants of the Australian continent has been in the works for many decades. Australia is a democratic constitutional monarchy: the relationship with Britain’s monarchy remains unchanged.
Australia received its independence 1 January 1901.
The country’s population stands at 26.2 million. Life expectancy is 83.1 years, with GDP per capita at $49,800 (2021).
Internationally recognized as the fifth continent, Australia is the only one-nation continent.
This peaceful country is considered one of the safest in the world, with a very low crime rate.
Australia is part of the “West,” maintaining a close relationship with the EU and North America.
The Healthy Journal lists the five safest countries in the world: 1) Iceland; 2) Canada; 3) Australia; 4) New Zealand; 5) Norway. These are considered the most likely to survive a nuclear war.
It seems the Australian government followed the advice of Romans 13:1: “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” They did not rebel against their colonial masters, and apparently are rather well-off despite being subject to the British Crown.
While 43.9% of the population identify as Christian, the fastest growing religion is Hinduism. This growth is fueled by migration. But there is an upward trend in people claiming no religion, which now stands at 38.9%.
Regardless of any and all statistics, the Church—the real one, consisting of born-again believers—will continue to grow because of one specific statement our Lord made: “I will build my church.”
Arno Froese is the executive director of Midnight Call Ministries and editor-in-chief of the acclaimed prophetic magazines Midnight Call and News From Israel. He has authored a number of well-received books, and has sponsored many prophecy conferences in the U.S., Canada, and Israel. His extensive travels have contributed to his keen insight into Bible prophecy, as he sees it from an international perspective.
