Pictures of British monarchs removed from the $5 banknote

Australia's central bank said today its new $5 coin will feature an original design rather than a portrait of King Charles III.

 The monarch is still expected to appear on coins that currently bear the image of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The $5 bill was the only remaining banknote in Australia that still featured the king's portrait.

The bank said the decision came after consultation with the centre-left Labor government, which supported the change.

Opposition opinion
  Opponents say the move is politically motivated.
The British monarch remains Australia's head of state, although these days that role is largely symbolic.
Australia, like many former British colonies, is debating how far it should maintain its constitutional relations with Britain.

The Reserve Bank of Australia said the new $5 bill will feature a design that replaces the image of the queen, who died last year.

Respect the culture and history of Australians
The bank said the move would honor "the culture and history of early Australians".

"The obverse side of the $5 bill will continue to feature the Australian Parliament," the bank said in a statement.
Treasury Secretary Jim Chalmers said the change was an opportunity to strike a good balance.

"He will still be the king on the coins but the $5 bill will say more about our history, our heritage and our country, and I think that's a good thing," he told reporters in Melbourne.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton likened the move to changing the date of the national holiday, Australia Day.

The current $5 will be issued until the new design is introduced and will remain legal tender even after the new bill has been put into circulation.

The face of King Charles III is expected to appear on Australian coins later this year.

One Australian dollar is equal to approximately 71 cents in the US currency.