During King Charles's visit to Australia, Indigenous Australian senator Lidia Thorpe made headlines when she disrupted the monarch’s parliamentary reception, shouting anti-colonial slogans and fiercely condemning the British monarchy’s historical role in the oppression of Indigenous Australians. Known for her unwavering advocacy for Indigenous rights, Thorpe’s dramatic protest included statements such as "You are not my king" and accusations that King Charles and his ancestors committed genocide against Indigenous peoples. She called for the return of stolen lands and reparations for the harm inflicted during British colonization, saying, "Give us our land back. Give us what you stole from us—our bones, our skulls, our babies, our people."
The confrontation took place in the Great Hall of Parliament House in Canberra, where King Charles and Queen Camilla were attending a reception as part of their five-day visit to Australia. This visit, King Charles’s first to the country since becoming monarch, holds particular significance, especially as it follows his cancer diagnosis earlier in the year. During his address to the gathered MPs and senators, Thorpe, who was a guest at the event, suddenly stood up and walked down the aisle toward the podium, where the King was seated, shouting her anti-monarchy message before being swiftly removed by security personnel.
Thorpe’s protest was marked by her wearing a fur cloak, a symbol of her Indigenous heritage. As she was escorted out, she continued to shout, "This is not your land. You are not my king. You are not our king. F*** the colony." Her impassioned display of defiance caught the attention of both the media and social platforms, where videos of the incident quickly went viral. King Charles, upon witnessing the outburst, was seen pulling Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese aside for a brief conversation on the podium. Although the situation was tense, it did not escalate beyond Thorpe’s removal from the hall.
Australia's colonial history is one of violent dispossession, and the country continues to grapple with the lasting impact of British colonization on its Indigenous population. Thousands of Aboriginal Australians were killed, displaced, or marginalized during the British colonial period, and the trauma of that legacy still resonates today. Although Australia gained de facto independence in 1901, it remains a constitutional monarchy, with King Charles as the head of state.
Thorpe has long been a vocal critic of the monarchy and colonialism. Her protests are not new—she made headlines in 2022 when she raised her fist and referred to Queen Elizabeth II as "colonising" while taking her parliamentary oath of allegiance. This latest act of defiance underscores her commitment to challenging the monarchy’s role in Australia’s history and advocating for the rights and recognition of Indigenous peoples. Thorpe is a staunch advocate for a treaty between Indigenous Australians and the government, a call she reiterated during her protest.
The public reaction to Thorpe's outburst has been polarizing. Some have praised her courage in standing up for Indigenous rights, while others, including former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, condemned the display as "unfortunate political exhibitionism." Abbott, who was present at the reception, expressed disappointment at the timing and manner of Thorpe’s protest, emphasizing that it overshadowed the broader discussions taking place during the King’s visit. Australian businessman Dick Smith, also in attendance, acknowledged the value of Australia’s democratic freedoms, stating, "I think that's the wonderful part of our democracy—that she's not going to be put in jail." This view reflects the complex relationship between freedom of expression and respect for institutional figures in Australia’s political landscape.
Thorpe's protest comes at a time when Australia is once again engaged in debates over its colonial past, Indigenous rights, and the question of becoming a republic. Last year, Australians overwhelmingly rejected a referendum on the constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians and the creation of a separate Indigenous assembly, a decision that highlighted ongoing divisions within the country. Additionally, the 1999 referendum on whether to remove the British monarch as head of state also failed, as Australians were divided over the question of whether the monarch's replacement should be chosen by parliament or by the people.
As Australia continues to grapple with these issues, the question of whether the country will ever fully sever its ties with the British monarchy remains open. Thorpe’s protest, and the broader debate it sparks, reflects the ongoing tensions within Australian society about the legacy of British rule, the treatment of Indigenous peoples, and the country’s future direction—whether it will eventually become a republic or continue as a constitutional monarchy.
