Australian senate censures Indigenous lawmaker who yelled at King Charles III
Associated PressNOV 2024
Australia: Indigenous Senator Censured Over Royal Protest
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 copyright: DAVID GRAY/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
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.
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.