Australian Senator Lidia Thorpe Censured After Protesting King Charles in Parliament

Australian Senator Lidia Thorpe Censured: Australian Senator Lidia Thorpe has been formally censured by lawmakers for heckling King Charles during his visit to Canberra last month. The Aboriginal senator’s protest, in which she declared, “You are not my King” and “This is not your land,” was staged shortly after the King addressed the Great Hall of Parliament.

The Senate voted 46-12 to censure Thorpe, describing her actions as “disrespectful and disruptive” and stating that they disqualify her from representing the chamber in official delegations. While the censure holds no legal power, it carries significant political weight, signaling broad disapproval of her conduct.

Thorpe defended her actions, saying she aimed to highlight the enduring impacts of British colonization on Australia’s Indigenous peoples. “The British Crown committed heinous crimes against the first peoples of this country… I will not be silent,” she told reporters after the Senate decision. She also criticized her inability to address the chamber due to a flight delay.

Thorpe’s protest drew mixed reactions. Critics from across the political spectrum, including some Indigenous leaders, condemned her actions. However, some activists praised her for bringing attention to the disadvantages faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, including disparities in health, wealth, education, and life expectancy compared to non-Indigenous Australians.

King Charles, who was on a five-day tour of Australia with Queen Camilla, received a warm welcome from Australian crowds. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese lauded the King for his respect toward Australians, even amid debates about the country’s constitutional relationship with the monarchy.

Thorpe, a Gunnai, Gunditjmara, and Djab Wurrung woman, has a history of controversial activism. During her 2022 swearing-in ceremony, she referred to Queen Elizabeth II as a colonizer, prompting backlash and a re-take of her oath.

Thorpe was also a prominent critic of last year’s failed referendum on the Voice to Parliament, which sought to grant constitutional recognition to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. While the proposal saw significant support among Indigenous Australians, Thorpe opposed it as “tokenistic.”