The frantic letter sent to Royals after $5 note change – as it’s revealed the King’s representative in Australia was not notified about the change
- Australia’s $5 banknote will feature a tribute to indigenous cultures
- The note has featured a portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth since 1992
A decision to scrap the monarch from the $5 note was not run by the King’s representative in Canberra before it was publicly announced.
Paul Singer, the Governor-General’s secretary, told a senate estimates hearing on Monday that he was surprised that Government House was not told of the change ahead of time.
‘The first I became aware of the decision was the media release from the Reserve Bank,’ he said.
Earlier this month, the RBA confirmed that King Charles III would not replace his mother on the Australian $5 note.
A design honouring the culture and history of First Australians will instead feature on the pink note.
Mr Singer penned a letter to his counterpart at Buckingham Palace that afternoon with a copy of the media release.
‘So to ensure they didn’t wake up to the news not having been forewarned,’ he added.
Asked about the Governor-General’s response, Mr Singer declined to speak for him but did say David Hurley ‘probably shared my surprise’.
‘We were only made aware of the decision as a consequence of reading the media statement,’ the secretary said.
The late Queen is being removed from Australia’s $5 banknote, but won’t be replaced with a portrait of King Charles III
King Charles III and the Princess Royal arrive to attend a church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, on January 29, 2023
Australian coins are set to be updated to feature King Charles following the death of the Queen at age 96 (pictured is a mocked-up version of the 20 cent coin)
Liberal senator Dean Smith quizzed Mr Singer if he would describe the lack of consultation as “a gross lack of courtesy”.
“That’s for others to comment,” Mr Singer responded.
The design of the updated fiver is not expected to be finalised for years.
It means bank notes featuring the portrait of Queen Elizabeth will continue to be issued and legal tender for some time.
Although he’s been cut off the pink note, King Charles’ effigy will feature on Australian coins from the second half of the year.
Australia’s $5 banknote has featured a portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth since 1992 (pictured, the Queen receives flowers from school children in Sydney in March 2006)
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