During King Charles's recent visit to Australia, Indigenous Australian Senator Lidia Thorpe made headlines by interrupting him at a parliamentary reception. She shouted accusations regarding historical injustices faced by Indigenous Australians, declaring, "You committed genocide against our people. Give us our land back. Give us what you stole from us—our bones, our skulls, our babies, our people." Her passionate outburst was captured on video and quickly went viral. Following her remarks, security personnel escorted Thorpe out of the venue.
Thorpe's actions reverberated through Parliament, surprising many lawmakers and dignitaries in attendance. Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott labeled the incident as "unfortunate political exhibitionism."
Thorpe's Ongoing Criticism of the Monarchy Lidia Thorpe has been an outspoken critic of the British monarchy for years, consistently advocating for justice for Indigenous Australians. She questions the monarchy's legitimacy in Australia and believes King Charles is "not the legitimate sovereign of these lands." In an interview with the BBC, she expressed her frustration, asking, "How can he stand up there and say he’s the King of our country? He’s stolen so much wealth from our people and from our land, and he needs to give that back. And he needs to entertain a conversation for a peace treaty in this country."
As a strong proponent of establishing a treaty between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, Thorpe sees this step as vital to addressing historical wrongs and paving the way toward a republic. She stated, "We need to resolve unfinished business," highlighting the lingering impacts of Australia’s colonial past on Aboriginal communities.
Who is Lidia Thorpe? Lidia Thorpe was born in 1973 in Carlton, Victoria, and is a member of the Gunnai, Gunditjmara, and Djab Wurrung peoples. Her upbringing and ties to Aboriginal activism have significantly influenced her political career. In a 2022 interview, she remarked, “I had no choice in being influenced by black activists and the black struggle of my people… I was born into it, and I don’t know anything else.”
Before her political journey began, Thorpe earned a Diploma in Community Development from Swinburne University of Technology and a graduate certificate in public sector management. She gained recognition as an Indigenous rights advocate and became involved in various social justice causes, including environmental issues and prison reform.
Thorpe's political career began in 2017 when she was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly, representing Northcote. She made history in 2020 as the first Aboriginal woman elected to the federal Senate after Richard Di Natale's resignation, initially serving as a member of the Greens and becoming the first Aboriginal senator from Victoria.
However, in February 2023, Thorpe left the Greens due to disagreements over the party’s stance on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum, which she and her supporters opposed. This departure underscored her unwavering commitment to Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination.
Past Protests and Notable Controversies Thorpe's confrontation with King Charles is not her first act of activism. In 2020, during her swearing-in ceremony, she raised a black power salute while donning a traditional possum-skin cloak and holding a message stick symbolizing Aboriginal deaths in custody. This powerful statement addressed Australia’s colonial history.
In 2021, after being re-elected, Thorpe stirred controversy again when she referred to the late Queen Elizabeth II as "the colonising Her Majesty" during her oath. Although Senate officials required her to repeat the oath with the correct wording, her statement resonated with her supporters and emphasized her anti-monarchy stance.
Senator Lidia Thorpe Disrupts King Charles' Visit to Parliament, Declaring 'You Are Not My King'