Greens leader Adam Bandt slammed over ‘highly insensitive’ tweet calling for a republic following the Queen’s death

Greens leader Adam Bandt has cooped a wave of criticism for calling Australia to become a republic just hours after it was announced that the Queen had died.

A statement from Buckingham Palace on Thursday about 6.30pm (early Friday morning AEST) confirmed the 96-year-old died at Balmoral, surrounded by her family.

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“The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon,” Buckingham Palace said.

“The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”

Tributes have flown in from politicians all over the world – however Greens leader and federal MP for Melbourne Adam Bandt added an extra message to his condolences posted on Twitter on Friday morning.

“Rest In Peace Queen Elizabeth II,” he wrote.

“Our thoughts are with her family and all who loved her.

“Now Australia must move forward.

“We need Treaty with First Nations people, and we need to become a Republic.”

Greens leader Adam Bandt has called for a republic on Twitter, hours after the Queen’s death. Credit: AAP

Of those who thought Bandt’s tweet was in bad taste was former immigration minister Alex Hawke, who labelled his words as “truly graceless and bereft of common decency”.

“Ignorant of the feelings today of hundreds of millions of human beings, worldwide. Just not needed,” he wrote.

Others criticised Bandt for using the Queen’s death to make a political point.

“Adam, today is about mourning and remembering Queen Elizabeth II and celebrating her life and contribution,” one user wrote.

“Surely the talk of a Republic could of (sic) waited for another time??”

Another Twitter user replied to Bandt’s tweet saying: “How graceless of you. I support an Australian republic, but today is a day for condolences, not politics.”

Meanwhile, less than half an hour after the Queen had passed, the Australian Republic Movement (ARM) posted a statement on Twitter to pay “due respect to the significant contribution” made by the Queen.

Australian Republic Movement chairman Peter Fitzsimmons and former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull at the 20th anniversary of the republic referendum dinner in 2019. Credit: MICK TSIKAS/AAPIMAGE

The statement was quick to mention the monarch’s words during the referendum on an Australian republic in 1999.

“The Queen backed the right of Australians to become a fully independent nation during the referendum on an Australian republic in 1999, saying that she has ‘always made it clear that the future of the Monarchy in Australia is an issue for the Australian people and them alone to decide, by democratic and constitutional means’,” it said.

“During her reign the Australia Act 1986 was passed eliminating many of the remaining opportunities for UK interference in Australian government. Appeals from Australian courts to British courts were abolished.”

ARM chair Peter FitzSimons said it was unlikely a monarch “as respected or admired by the Australian people” will ever be seen again.

“We are deeply saddened by the news of Queen Elizabeth’s passing and express deep gratitude, and thanks for her service to the Commonwealth.”

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Moment crowd outside Buckingham Palace sings ‘God Save the King’.

Moment crowd outside Buckingham Palace sings ‘God Save the King’.

Moment crowd outside Buckingham Palace sings ‘God Save the King’.