Australian lawmakers recently voted to censure an Aboriginal senator, Lidia Thorpe, for interrupting King Charles during his visit to Canberra, expressing their “profound disapproval” of her protest actions.
During the King’s speech in Parliament’s Great Hall, Senator Thorpe loudly proclaimed, “You are not my King” and “This is not your land,” aiming to draw attention to the lingering effects of British colonization.
The Senate passed the censure 46-12, labeling Thorpe’s behavior as “disrespectful and disruptive.” They argued that such actions should bar her from representing the chamber in any official capacity.
While a censure motion holds political significance, it lacks any constitutional or legal authority.
Thorpe responded to the Senate’s decision, explaining to reporters that a flight delay had prevented her from defending herself in the chamber.
She remained defiant, stating, “The British Crown committed heinous crimes against the first peoples of this country… I will not be silent.”
Her protest last month drew immediate ire from across the political aisle, as well as from some prominent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders.
However, it also drew praise from some activists who argued that it highlighted the plight of Australia’s first inhabitants, who endured colonial violence and still face acute disadvantages in terms of health, wealth, education, and life expectancy compared to non-Indigenous Australians.
Despite the controversy, Australians warmly received King Charles and Queen Camilla during their five-day visit.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in an official statement, “You have shown great respect for Australians, even during times when we have debated the future of our own constitutional arrangements and the nature of our relationship with the crown. Nothing stands still.”
Thorpe has long been recognized for her Indigenous activism, often making headlines worldwide.
During her swearing-in ceremony in 2022, the Gunnai, Gunditjmara, and Djab Wurrung woman described Queen Elizabeth II as a colonizer, which sparked criticism and led to her retaking the oath.
In 2023, Australia voted against a proposal to give constitutional recognition to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and establish a body to advise parliament on issues affecting their communities.
The referendum, known as the Voice, became the center of a heated and divisive campaign. Both sides quickly moved on after the vote, leaving questions about what comes next for related policies.
While data suggests most Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people supported the ‘Yes’ vote, not everyone agreed. Thorpe, a vocal ‘No’ campaigner, criticized the proposal as merely symbolic and lacking real impact.
