Australian Senator Lidia Thorpe Heckles King Charles During Historic Visit
Lidia Thorpe has a history of stirring controversy, particularly regarding her criticisms of the British monarchy.
As the first Aboriginal senator from Victoria, Thorpe has represented the state since 2020 and has a robust background in Indigenous activism, including her role as chairperson of the Naidoc (National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee).
In a notable incident last year, Thorpe referred to the late Queen Elizabeth II as a coloniser during her parliamentary swearing-in ceremony.
On Monday, during King Charles’ visit to Australia, Thorpe made headlines again by heckling the monarch. “I wanted to send a clear message to the King of England that he’s not the King of this country, he’s not my king, he’s not sovereign,” she stated after being escorted out. “To be sovereign you have to be of this land. He’s not of this land.”
She emphasized how colonialism has left significant negative impacts on First Nations people in Australia. “He’s stolen so much wealth from our people and from our land, and he needs to give that back,” she declared, urging a discussion on a peace treaty.
Thorpe’s position is rooted in a broader context of systemic disparities between Indigenous Australians and non-Indigenous citizens. For instance, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese highlighted that Indigenous youth are more likely to be incarcerated than to attend university. Between 2020 and 2022, life expectancy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people was found to be eight years shorter than that of their non-Indigenous counterparts.
One of Thorpe’s primary concerns is that Australia remains the only Commonwealth nation without a treaty with its Indigenous population. She prioritizes this issue over initiatives like last year’s referendum on a Voice to Parliament, which aimed to give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders a consultative body within Parliament. While the proposal was largely rejected by voters, Thorpe viewed it as a distraction from achieving a treaty.
Contrasting opinions exist within Indigenous communities. For instance, Allira Davis, co-chair of the Uluru Youth Dialogue, expressed a different sentiment about royal visits. “I don’t think it’s that important. We’re our own country,” she said. Davis supports the idea of becoming a republic but emphasizes the necessity of recognizing First Nations people.
Although Thorpe’s approach resonates with many concerning the ramifications of colonization, her tactics have drawn criticism. Reports suggest some former colleagues have found her challenging to work with.
Regardless, as an independent senator after departing from the Greens over their support for the Yes vote in the referendum, Thorpe shows no signs of wavering in her stance. She believes that King Charles must play an active role in addressing historical injustices towards Indigenous Australians.
