By G. Mudalige, Jadetimes Staff
G. Mudalige is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Technology & Innovation
Australian Senator Lidia Thorpe has been officially censured by lawmakers following her vocal protest during King Charles’ visit to Canberra’s Great Hall of Parliament last month. The Aboriginal senator shouted, “You are not my King” and “This is not your land,” shortly after the monarch addressed attendees, aiming to draw attention to the historical and ongoing impacts of British colonization.
The Senate’s censure motion passed overwhelmingly, 46-12, expressing "profound disapproval" of Thorpe’s actions. The motion deemed her conduct "disrespectful and disruptive," asserting that it disqualified her from representing the chamber in any official delegations. While a censure carries no constitutional or legal ramifications, it is a politically symbolic gesture. Thorpe criticized the process, stating she was denied the right to respond in the chamber due to a flight delay. She remained defiant, declaring, “The British Crown committed heinous crimes against the first peoples of this country... I will not be silent.”
Thorpe’s protest drew sharp criticism from across the political spectrum, as well as from some prominent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders. However, it also garnered praise from activists who viewed her actions as a vital reminder of the injustices endured by Indigenous Australians. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities continue to face stark disparities in health, wealth, education, and life expectancy compared to non-Indigenous Australians.
The protest highlighted the broader context of Australia’s fraught relationship with its colonial history. Unlike other former British colonies such as New Zealand, Australia has never established a treaty with its Indigenous peoples. Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders emphasize that sovereignty over their lands was never ceded to the Crown. Thorpe has been a strong advocate for treaty negotiations, which she views as a necessary step towards justice and reconciliation.
Despite the controversy, King Charles and Queen Camilla were warmly welcomed by Australian crowds during their five-day visit. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese commended the King for his respect towards Australia, even amid ongoing debates about the nation’s constitutional future and its ties to the monarchy. “Nothing stands still,” Albanese remarked, acknowledging the evolving nature of Australia’s relationship with the Crown.
Thorpe, a Gunnai, Gunditjmara, and Djab Wurrung woman, has a history of high-profile Indigenous activism. Her outspoken approach has often drawn both support and criticism. During her swearing-in ceremony in 2022, she referred to Queen Elizabeth II as a colonizer, prompting demands to retake her oath.
The protest also reignited discussions about the failed 2023 referendum on the Voice to Parliament, which sought to grant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people constitutional recognition and a formal advisory role. While data suggests a majority of Indigenous Australians supported the proposal, Thorpe led the ‘No’ campaign, arguing that the measure was tokenistic and insufficient for addressing systemic injustices.
Thorpe’s actions continue to polarize opinion in Australia, underscoring the complex and often contentious nature of the country’s engagement with its colonial past and Indigenous future. As debates around sovereignty, reconciliation, and representation persist, her protest has brought these issues back into the national spotlight.
