Lidia Thorpe Faces Senate Reprimand After Criticizing British Crown
Australia’s Senate has formally censured Indigenous Senator Lidia Thorpe following her public protest against Britain’s King Charles III during his visit to Parliament last month. The censure motion, led by the governing Labor Party, passed with 46 votes in favor and six against.
Thorpe, a Gunnai, Gunditjmara, and Djab-Wurrung woman representing Victoria, had interrupted the King’s ceremonial welcome on October 21, denouncing historical and ongoing injustices tied to the British Crown.
“You committed genocide against our people. Give us our land back! Give us what you stole from us!” Thorpe shouted as she was removed by security. Her protest, which included accusations of war crimes and genocide, gained international attention, sparking both condemnation and support.
Ahead of the Senate’s vote, Thorpe issued a defiant statement: “I will not be silent. The truth is, this colony is built on stolen land, stolen wealth, and stolen lives. The Crown must be held accountable for these crimes.”
Though censure motions are symbolic and carry no legal weight, the Senate’s decision highlights divisions over Australia’s colonial legacy and its ties to the British monarchy. After the motion passed, Thorpe dramatically ripped the printed censure document in half, a gesture reminiscent of New Zealand’s Te Pati Maori legislator Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, who recently tore up a controversial treaty bill in protest.
Thorpe’s actions have reignited debates over Australia’s relationship with the monarchy and its treatment of Indigenous peoples. Despite facing criticism, Thorpe maintains she has “no regrets” about her protest.