Australian Senator Lidia Thorpe Sparks Outrage at King Charles’s Parliament Visit
In a dramatic display of defiance, Australian Indigenous senator Lidia Thorpe vehemently confronted King Charles during his visit to the country’s parliament on Monday. Her emotional outburst shocked lawmakers and dignitaries, thrusting the long-standing debate about colonialism and Indigenous rights to the forefront.
Following the 75-year-old king’s speech, Thorpe delivered an impassioned diatribe, her voice ringing throughout the assembly for nearly a minute. “Give us our land back! Give us what you stole from us!” she exclaimed, passionately demanding reparation for the historical injustices faced by Australia’s Aboriginal community. Referring to the brutal treatment of Indigenous Australians by European settlers, Thorpe proclaimed, “This is not your land, you are not my king.”
Thorpe’s verbal protest comes as no surprise, given her tireless advocacy for Indigenous rights and vocal opposition to the monarchy. When sworn into office in 2022, she ignited controversy by altering her oath of allegiance, raising her fist in solidarity with her people. Thorpe’s adjustment to the oath sparked an exchange with Senate officials, who insisted she recite the original text.
Thorpe’s grievances echo the feelings of many Indigenous Australians, who have endured centuries of marginalization and dispossession. As a British colony, Australia witnessed the violent displacement of thousands of Aboriginal people, alongside the erasure of their cultures and traditions. Despite achieving de facto independence in 1901, Australia remains a constitutional monarchy, with King Charles serving as head of state.
The senator’s dramatic protest also alludes to the current push for a republic in Australia. While Australians rejected a move towards republicanism in 1999, debates surrounding constitutional reform continue to simmer. In 2023, the country saw a significant majority reject measures aimed at recognizing Indigenous Australians in the constitution and establishing an Indigenous consultative assembly.
As King Charles embarks on his first major foreign tour since his cancer diagnosis, Thorpe’s impassioned plea is a poignant reminder of the complex, often painful history that underlies Australia’s relationship with the monarchy. As this contentious issue lingers in the national consciousness, it remains to be seen whether meaningful change will follow – change that acknowledges the profound wrongs inflicted upon Indigenous Australians and seeks to mend the deep wounds of the past.