Politics

Australia: Indigenous Senator Censured Over Royal Protest

Published NOV 18 2024

Story

Above: Lidia Thorpe wears a Palestinian keffiyeh scarf as she speaks in the Senate chamber at Parliament House in Canberra on Oct. 16, 2023. Image credit: DAVID GRAY/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images

The Facts

On Monday, the Australian Senate voted 46-12 to censure independent lawmaker Lidia Thorpe for her protest against King Charles III during his parliamentary visit to Australia last month. Senator Ralph Babet of the United Australia party was also censured for posting a tweet that included multiple offensive slurs.
ap
BBC News
ABC
During a parliamentary reception, Thorpe confronted the King and yelled, "You committed genocide against our people," and "You are not our king."
guardian
ap
Government Senate leader Penny Wong said Thorpe's and Mr. Babet's actions sought to "incite outrage and grievance" and "create storms on social media."
guardian
Independent
Thorpe, who missed the censure vote due to flight delays from Melbourne, later ripped up a paper copy of the motion and declared she would protest again if the King returned.
Herald Sun
ABC
The censure motion, which is a symbolic gesture of disapproval and doesn't carry legal weight, came amid broader discussions about Indigenous representation in Australia, where Indigenous people comprise less than 4% of the population.
ABC News
Al Jazeera
Thorpe has a history of Indigenous activism. During her swearing-in ceremony in 2022, the DjabWurrung Gunnai Gunditjmara lawmaker was forced to retake her oath after she referred to Queen Elizabeth II as a colonizer.
NBC

Sources Split

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RIGHT

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The Spin

Narrative A

The protest represented disrespectful behavior that undermined parliamentary standards and sought to incite outrage for personal attention. These actions create unnecessary division and conflict within Australia's political system. Such conduct damages the dignity of the Senate and requires a formal rebuke.

SBS News

Narrative B

The censure motion exemplifies the systemic issue of white privilege within parliament and attempts to silence Indigenous voices speaking truth to power. The protest legitimately addressed historical injustices and sovereign rights of First Peoples. Parliamentary procedures were manipulated to prevent proper defense against the censure.