NOBARTV NEWS – The news became even more popular after King Charles III, who was on a five-day state visit to Australia, received a strong protest from Australian Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe at the Australian Parliament House in Canberra. Thorpe, a senator who is vocal in fighting for indigenous rights, accused the British monarchy of stealing Aboriginal land and called for a treaty as a form of recognition of the history of oppression.
King Charles’ visit to Australia with Queen Camilla is his first since he ascended the throne. In the main event held in the Great Hall of Parliament House on Monday, Charles delivered a speech to MPs and senators. His speech touched on his youth in Australia, the Covid-19 pandemic and how Australia is vulnerable to the climate crisis. But as the speech ended, the atmosphere turned tense when Thorpe stormed to the front of the stage, shouting, “This is not your country!”
Thorpe accused the monarchy of committing genocide against Australia’s indigenous people and demanded the return of the land, the bones of their ancestors and the rights that had been stolen from them. “You destroyed our land. Give us a treaty! We want a treaty in this country,” Thorpe exclaimed with emotion. He went on to say, “You are a genocide.”
The protest caused security officers to immediately intervene and escort Thorpe out of the hall. As he was being led to the exit, Thorpe continued to protest, shouting, “This is not your land. You are not my king. You are not our king.” Outside the hall, he also cursed, “Damn this colony.”
King Charles appeared to be speaking calmly with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese when the incident occurred. Security guards made sure Thorpe did not approach the king. Thorpe had earlier shown his disapproval by turning his back on a large screen showing King Charles during an official welcoming ceremony.
Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton gave a warm welcome to King Charles and Queen Camilla before the monarch's speech began. Albanese called the monarch's presence a sign of support for the Australian people, both in difficult times and in good times. He also praised King Charles' commitment to issues such as climate change and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
However, the protest incident has drawn mixed reactions. Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who was also present at the event, called Thorpe's actions "unfortunate political exhibitionism." Abbott is known as a strong supporter of the British monarchy and in 2014 caused controversy by restoring knighthoods and dames in Australia, even giving one to Prince Philip.
Prominent Australian businessman Dick Smith, who was also present at the event, saw the incident as a testament to democratic freedoms in Australia. “That’s the beauty of our democracy – that he (Thorpe) is not going to jail for it,” Smith said.
On the same day, Thorpe also released a statement calling for Australia to become a republic and negotiate treaties with Indigenous peoples as part of that process. He asserted that Australia had not addressed the fundamental issues that had existed since the colonial invasion. According to Thorpe, Indigenous peoples had never given up their sovereignty over these lands, and the British Empire had committed genocide against them.
Calls for a treaty between the Australian government and Indigenous peoples have been around for a long time, dating back to early colonisation. This call was reiterated in the 2017 “Uluru Statement from the Heart” which called for voice, treaty and truth. The statement stated that Indigenous sovereignty was “never surrendered or removed” and remains co-existent with the sovereignty of the British Crown. However, while some states and territories have begun the process towards a treaty, the federal government has yet to formally move forward with it.
King Charles and Queen Camilla's visit to Australia was also filled with various ceremonial events. Earlier, the royal couple met with residents at the Australian War Memorial, where they shook hands and greeted children. One interesting moment was when an alpaca named Hephner, wearing a gold crown, bow tie and blue velvet suit, was introduced to King Charles. His owner, Robert Fletcher, said they did not want to miss the rare opportunity to dress their alpaca like a member of the royal family.
Meanwhile, police in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) reported that Thorpe was also part of a protest group near the War Memorial before the event at Parliament House. The group was removed from the scene by authorities and followed orders without further incident. At the same location, a 62-year-old man was arrested for a public order offence but released without charge. Several other people were also arrested around the memorial but not charged.
A 21-year-old woman who was arrested at the War Memorial on suspicion of disobeying police was charged and appeared in court on Monday afternoon.
The incident adds tension to the ongoing debate in Australia over the country's future, whether to retain the monarchy or become a republic. However, the visit by King Charles and Queen Camilla is expected to further strengthen ties between Australia and the UK, and open further dialogue on reconciliation with Indigenous peoples who have long fought for their rights.
The Thorpe protest, while controversial, reminds us that deep issues such as sovereignty, land rights and justice for Indigenous peoples remain important debates in modern Australia. The question is, will this protest spark concrete steps towards change, or just become part of a recurring political dynamic? Only time will tell.
