The Australian government is set to change the portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth II on their $5 currency notes. It is also confirmed that King Charles III will also not feature on the new design. The Reserve Bank of Australia has informed that the new design of the notes will pay tribute to the culture of the indigenous Australians.
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The Reserve Bank has also decided to update the $5 bank note to feature a new design that honours the culture and history of the First Australians,’ a statement read.
Queen Elizabeth II’s portrait was on the Australian notes since 1953, but she passed away last year. The government has said that it will consult with the people as well about who to replace on the currency notes. And one name that is getting popular for the same is the late Australian spinner, Shane Warne. Former England’s captain Michael Vaughan has also advocated for the same.
Michael Vaughan advocates for Shane Warne to replace Queen Elizabeth on the new $5 note
Vaughan, 48, took to social media platform Twitter and shared a demo of the Australian $5 note with Warne’s portrait on it. He called Warne as the “King of Australia” and believes there will be no better way to celebrate the King.
“Couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate the King Australia,” Michael Vaughan Tweeted.
Warne was one of the greatest players in Australian cricket history, and he passed away earlier from a suspected heart attack. He left a rich legacy behind him, and the cricketing fraternity was in shock when the legend passed away. He was the first cricketer in the history of test cricket to scalp 700 Test wickets.
Apart from Vaughan, a lot of people on Twitter have also vouched for Warne to replace the Queen on the note. It will be interesting to see whether the government will take this step or not.
Meanwhile, Australian women’s all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner comes from an indigenous background. It was only last week that she condemned the Australian Women’s team playing on Australia Day (January 26). Gardner had opined around the day being a “day of hurt and a day of mourning” for the indigenous tribe, and it should be used to educate people about Australia’s history.
Cricket Australia also responded on the same, and they released a statement where they said that they under Gardner’s emotions, but they are using cricket as a tool to spread education and awareness about the same.
“Cricket Australia understands and acknowledges Ash’s position and appreciates her leadership and the contributions of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to the game of cricket. We will use the T20 international scheduled for 26 January as an opportunity to continue our ongoing education journey with First Nations people,” Cricket Australia statement read.
