Anthony Albanese has comprehensively shut the door on the prospect of a referendum to make Australia a republic while he is prime minister, despite acknowledging his personal desire for an Australian head of state.

Albanese said there would only be one referendum during his time as the nation’s leader, during an interview on the ABC Insiders program on Sunday after his meeting with King Charles in Balmoral, Scotland.

“I think I’ve made it clear that I wanted to hold one referendum while I was prime minister, and we did that,” he said, referring to the 2023 Indigenous voice to parliament referendum.

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“We did that. And I think [now] we’re concentrating on cost of living, and on making a real practical difference to people’s lives.”

Asked by host David Spee

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