Subject: The death of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
DAVID SPEERS:
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is returning to Canberra for today’s Proclamation of King Charles III. I spoke to him a short time ago from Brisbane Airport. Peter Dutton, thanks for joining the programme.
PETER DUTTON:
Thanks, David.
DAVID SPEERS:
You described the Queen as one of humanity’s brightest lights. What does her death mean for Australia?
PETER DUTTON:
I think, at the moment, there’s a period of reflection – and naturally so – after such a long reign. She obviously had a deep and abiding affection for Australia, to send her eldest son here to school, and the number of times she visited. I think there are many Australians who, young or old, will have their own story about the Queen. I think the way in which she was able to connect even with the current generation is a real tribute to her; the way in which she was able to transform herself during the course of her reign made her relevant to each new generation. So, there’s a period of reflection. I think it provided a significant period of stability for our country, especially when you look at other comparable countries around the world. We’re in a very fortunate position and in part that is due because of her long reign and the stability of her reign.
DAVID SPEERS:
The formalities, the process that we’re seeing play out over the last few days and the coming week – the funeral, we know now know will be on Monday the 19th. Do you think everything for Australia’s part has been appropriately handled and what do you think about whether there should be a national public holiday here as well?
PETER DUTTON:
I’d certainly support a public holiday. That’s obviously a question for the Prime Minister but, yes, I think things have been dealt with appropriately, a few rogue elements on the side, but mostly people have been respectful and I think that’s exactly as it should be. I think the way in which the government has responded has been very professional, entirely appropriate and not just the Prime Minister, but the premiers, the chief ministers, others, dignitaries, we saw yesterday from the diplomatic corps, everybody I think has really felt this loss and they’ve expressed it appropriately.
DAVID SPEERS:
What sort of King do you think Charles will prove to be?
PETER DUTTON:
I had the pleasure of meeting both the King and Queen Consort a couple of years ago in Brisbane. I’d say just a very down to earth person. I was pleasantly surprised, because you could claim that he was a quirky character, but I thought he was very engaging and I think if you’re in the training for decades as he has been, and with the Queen as such an influential presence in his life, as in William’s, that’s the reality of it. She was a significant presence for the world, but obviously within the Royal Family as well and I think he will pick up many of her traits and I think that will be a good thing for the United Kingdom and frankly, for the Commonwealth.
DAVID SPEERS:
He’s also been, in his role as Prince outspoken on some issues, climate change in particular. He told the European parliament – some years ago, that the ‘doomsday clock on climate change is ticking ever faster towards midnight, we can not be anything less than courageous and revolutionary in our approach to tackling climate change.’ Do you agree with the now King?
PETER DUTTON:
I think certainly in terms of the measures that we need to adopt and as a country, we are, we have been for a long period of time, to mitigate our emissions and to embrace renewables. All of that’s well under way. We just have to make sure we don’t get to a situation like we’re seeing in Germany where they’re rationing power, or in California where they’re talking about rolling blackouts, and in the United Kingdom itself at the moment where power prices in average families, they’re talking about thousands and thousands of pounds and people will turn their lights off. There’s a sensible approach to it and I’m sure the King would endorse that. But he now moves into a different phase of his life and as he pointed out, he’s been a very strong supporter of charities and different causes for most of his adult life, but he puts that to one side now, because he takes up the important role as the head of the Commonwealth and as the King, he will have a responsibility to dispense his duties fairly as the Queen did. I think the continuity is the important element of his reign. There’s just no suggestion whatsoever that he would be a different Monarch to the Queen.
DAVID SPEERS:
Are you suggesting that he should be dropping the advocacy on issues like climate change?
PETER DUTTON:
No, I think he made the point in his speech yesterday, that there are many causes that he has supported as a patron, but otherwise – including climate change – I’m sure he was referring to all these issues. And he will have very strong views on this issue and many others, I’m sure, but I think the point he made in his speech yesterday was that he now, as the Queen did, doesn’t express those views on a day-to-day basis. Prince William’s very strong in relation to this issue and many others. He’s a patron of many organisations as well, and as the Prince of Wales he will have a greater ability to speak out on, and to support causes that are important to him, but as King, I think as the Queen conducted her business, she’s there, he is there now as an impartial person, takes up that role and they obviously take it very seriously. I think it’s hard for us as outsiders – you see the mystique and the prestige of the Royal Family and the rest – but, clearly at times like this, I think it’s highlighted that they’re completely and utterly dedicated to the cause above all else. I think that’s been a real element of stability for us and I hope that it will be into the future.
DAVID SPEERS:
You’re not a republican, you support sticking with the monarchy. Peter Dutton, why does Australia need a King?
PETER DUTTON:
In terms of the debate about the monarchy and the republic, I think that is for another day, to be honest. I think, David, at the moment we mourn the loss of an incredible world leader, a woman who was obviously an amazing role model to many women, to many female leaders across the world. We need a King as much as we did a Queen, because we have a stability in our system that has served us well and I don’t believe in disrupting that, but I think today we’re obviously mourning the loss of the Queen but also the Proclamation of King Charles III takes place here in Australia later this morning. That will be a very important ceremony for us to be involved in. I’m on the way to Canberra now to join with the Prime Minister and the Governor-General in that regard. Again, it’s another step along the way of the transformation taking place: a very significant day in history, for the United Kingdom, but for Australia as well.
DAVID SPEERS:
Peter Dutton, thanks for your time.
PETER DUTTON:
Thank you. Thanks very much, David.
[ends]