The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s proposed visit has sparked joy from politicians Down Under as the country bids to move on from the season’s horrific bush fires.
Some commentators have argued that Kate and William “cannot refuse” the invitation as the appetite for their arrival is so widespread. However, not all Australians are thrilled at the prospect of another royal visit so soon after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle toured in 2018.
Famed commentator Lawrence Mooney, writing for Dc, suggested the tour was a political move from Prime Minister Morrison and claimed it was “straight out of the Scotty playbook”.
He continued: “The nation is in a period of healing and reflecting on how things may have been done differently and we just don’t need them here.
“Australians know what the devastation of natural disaster is, we know how to pull together for each other and how to start again.
“We don’t need a couple of Brits to ask us some mundane questions and make some quaint observations.”
Despite calling it a “terrible idea”, Mr Mooney did make it clear that his argument was purely a matter of making sure the country gets its priorities right, adding that he is neither a republican or a “royal hater”.
He added: “I think, of the lot, Wills and Kate deport themselves beautifully and are the only viable royals.
“Harry and Meghan have quit while the Queen and Prince Philip are too old to travel.”
However, he questioned: “What possible good could a visit from the Royal Family do apart from filling Australia’s gaping leadership vacuum left by the bushfire crisis?”
The government in Canberra faced a barrage of criticism over its response to the bushfires both domestically and around the world.
Mr Morrison has long been an advocate of the country’s fossil fuel industries and, in 2017, accused climate change activists of having “an ideological, pathological fear of coal”.
With the eyes of the world watching, he insisted the bushfires were not necessarily a result of climate change despite the unprecedented extent of the damage.
He was personally criticised for his response to the crisis, facing abuse on visits to sites badly affected by the fires and provoking furious outcries from campaigners such as Greta Thunberg.
There is even some irony in him advocating a royal visit as, in January, the Queen was urged to remove him from his post.
The crisis is evidently an issue close to Kate and William’s hearts, though.
They voiced their “sadness” at the impact of the fires in an emotional Instagram post as they celebrated Australia Day in January.
Mr Mooney finalised his argument as he called for more action from Canberra, making clear that his issue with the proposed tour is not with Kate and William per se but with Mr Morrison’s apparent lack of leadership.
He wrote: “The embarrassing thing for Australia is how excited we get that an English couple are going to condescend to come here and view the terrible destruction.
“Wills and Kate if you really want to help, send dollars not platitudes.
“Prime Minister, stop trying to hide behind another average marketing idea and lead.”
