Melbourne Writers Festival has been criticised for cancelling a session about the future of the monarchy that was scheduled to take place on Sunday, two days after Queen Elizabeth II’s death.

The panel featured four guests – Dennis Altman, author of God Save The Queen: The Strange Persistence of Monarchies; Julia Baird, biographer of Queen Victoria; Peter FitzSimons, chair of the Australian Republican Movement, and Indigenous lawyer Teela Reid – under the title “The End of the Monarchy?”. Despite differing views among participants, the festival decided to pull the plug.

Teela Reid says Australians can engage in robust conversations without being offensive.Credit:Steven Siewert

In a statement to The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, the festival said it recognised the importance of the conversation but “we also understand that the Queen’s recent death has changed the context of the planned discussion”.

“Melbourne Writers Festival decided to postpone this conversation until a later date,” the organisation said. “It remains an important discussion with real implications for this country.”

Wiradjuri and Wailwan woman Teela Reid, First Nations Lawyer in Residence at the University of Sydney Law School, said the festival should not have called off the session. “I absolutely said the conversation should go ahead in my opinion; I don’t agree with its cancellation.”

Reid said when it came to significant reforms and big public topics Australia seemed to be stuck in time and the crucial issue of any debate over a future republic should be the question of First Nations sovereignty.

Julia Baird, who wrote a biography on Queen Victoria.Credit:James Brickwood

Pointing to the ascension of King Charles III, Reid said one of the big things First Nations people and the monarchy had in common was ceremony and the way sovereignty could pass down through ceremony.

“One thing we have in common is the value we place on ceremonies. The idea of a Republic is really about redefining the notion of Sovereignty, and any future Australian Republic Model should include conversations about First Nations sovereignty.”

FitzSimons issued a statement at the weekend in which he expressed his sympathies and gratitude on behalf of the republican movement. ”We are deeply saddened by the news of Queen Elizabeth’s passing and express deep gratitude and thanks for her service to the Commonwealth. During her reign, Australia has grown into a mature and independent nation. It is unlikely we will ever see a Monarch as respected or admired by the Australian people again”

And in a later tweet he said now was the time to observe a respectful silence. “There will be much to say, but now not time to say it.”

Former festival director Rosemary Cameron said she hoped she would not have cancelled the session, but said the pressure on artistic director Michaela McGuire would have been substantial. She pointed out that the event would have been planned because the end of Queen Elizabeth’s reign was anticipated, but not so soon.

“If it’s appropriate to discuss when she is alive, surely even more so when she is dead? I would certainly have acknowledged the Queen with a minute’s silence. I can’t think of a better time to discuss it and I say that with due respect to the Queen.“

Cameron, who is executive officer of the Royal Historical Society of Victoria, said a republic was an important topic in Australia.

“After the last rather bruising attempt, my understanding is that the republicans have been waiting for this. There’s so much emotion where the Queen is concerned, but there will be less under Charles.“

Cameron also pointed out that a writers festival was a place where certainties should be challenged: “And if you go away discomforted, that’s all right. People have the choice of attending or not,” she said.

Before the session was cancelled, Altman said he had argued that there should be a minute’s silence to honour the Queen at the start, “but I was outvoted”.

“It was the perfect moment to question the institution, and the reality was that we reverted to our Anglo colonial roots. The panel split, but it was a festival decision.”

Sushi Das, chief of staff at RMIT ABC Fact Check, who was due to chair the session, said there were arguments for and against it. “But in the end I felt it should go ahead.”

Reid said public opinion needed to have the conversation about the future of the monarchy before the politicians. “We can engage in robust conversations about an Australian and not be offensive to Monarchists.”

The Age is a partner of Melbourne Writers Festival.

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