Coinciding with Monday's King's Birthday public holiday, the Australian Republic Movement has pushed for an alternative to be considered to better reflect contemporary Australian society.
Australian Republic Movement co-chairs Nova Peris OLY OAM and Craig Foster AM said the public holiday could be better spent recognising Australian historical figures and the contributions of hundreds of communities that make up the cultural diversity of Australia.
"We Australians love our public holidays, but for a nation committed to reconciliation, equality and inclusion, we would like to see June 12 in future used to celebrate the day we fully inherited our own country as a republic or perhaps the countless eminent Australians of all colours and ethnicities who helped shape the extraordinary country that we are today" Ms Peris said.
Ms Peris said a growing number of Australians oppose the country having a British monarch as its head of state.
"Modern Australia is uncomfortable with an ongoing relationship with an undemocratic institution built on hereditary entitlement and this would be an ideal occasion to celebrate our democratic ideals or the contributions of our volunteers and civil service ideals which underpin Australia's commitment to each other," she said.
Ms Peris' comments come following Australia Republic Movement polling from April which suggested 66 per cent of respondents do not believe King Charles and the British monarchy represents their values.
Australian Republic Movement co-chair Craig Foster said he would particularly like to see greater recognition of First Nations or Australia's multicultural communities as an alternative to the King's Birthday public holiday.
"Our public holidays should reflect our contemporary understanding, and First Nations have been calling for commemorative days to acknowledge dispossession by the Crown for a very long time, for example," Mr Foster said.
"We could acknowledge the moment when 'terra nullius' was overturned in the Mabo Case in the High Court in 1992, one of the most significant moments in our 65,000 year history or the path to the cultural enrichment that we are so deeply proud of today and which stands as a model for the world."
In acknowledging Britain's historical impact in Australia, Mr Foster said an alternative to the King's Birthday public holiday would be of greater significance to Australians in 2023.
"The British monarchy has played an important role in Australian history, one that we are only now starting to engage in a truthful conversation about the fullness of its impacts, but in 2023, marking the birthday of the King only highlights the fundamental disconnect between past practice, our contemporary nature and future aspirations," Mr Foster said.
"It is beyond time that we provided a platform for all our communities to showcase their incredible contributions to this diverse nation.
"These types of celebrations or commemorations would have real meaning to us all, would promote our shared values of democracy, equality, multiculturalism, merit over privilege and non-discrimination that we so passionately believe in and let all Australians know they are valued."
The King's Birthday public holiday is held on 12 June in Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Tasmania, South Australia and the Northern Territory, on 2 October in Queensland and 25 September in Western Australia.
