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The decision not to light up the Sydney Opera on the occasion of the coronation of King Charles III has rekindled the debate between royalists and republicans in Australia. The premier of New South Wales, the Labor Chris Minns, in office for just over a month, explained that he “obviously” respects the new king, but that he considers it more important to pay attention “to where and how we spend the money taxpayers” (THE SKY TG24 SPECIAL ON THE CORONATION OF CHARLES).
Sydney’s decision
Usually, for important occasions, the characteristic vaults of the architectural jewel of Sydney Bay, built in the 1960s to a design by Danish architect Jrn Utzon, are lit up. But on Saturday 6 May, on the day of the coronation of Charles III, they remained in the shadows, as he also wrote Reuters. Minns said he wanted to preserve the tradition of lighting the Opera “for the moments of sacrifice and heroism of Australians and Australia, or when there is an important event in Sydney”, and recalled that last year it happened 70 times, against 23 10 years earlier, for an estimated cost of between 50 and 60 thousand euros each time.
Beware of expenses
“I have no interest in opposing people who believe in the monarchy – Minns explained on the radio – but I have to be careful how their money is spent”. The Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, a convinced republican, still attended the coronation in London, but the president of the Australian royalists, Philip Benwell, denounced “a hidden republican campaign by the current government”.
Source-tg24.sky.it