An unwelcome protest disrupted King Charles III’s address at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia. Independent senator Lidia Thorpe, an Aboriginal woman, yelled, “You are not my King,” as she tossed out claims of genocide among Indigenous Australians. Security moved her away fast, but it put in the forefront an issue that still smolders in relation to Australia’s colonial past and its tie to the British monarchy.
An advocate for a treaty between the Australian government and its First Nations people, Thorpe is keen on pointing that the land was never ceded to the Crown. She sought a peace treaty and lamented the monarchy for being the instrument of colonization.
While Thorpe’s protest had headlines, other Indigenous leaders were quick to express the opposite sentiment, such as welcoming Aunty Violet Sheridan, who hosted the King and Queen to the city earlier in the day. She said that their visit was a respect worthy of thanks. The speeches from politicians went on without any reference to the protest and the King and Queen later welcomed crowds at length that gathered in front of Parliament House.
The protest also brought to the forefront debate about Australia’s future as a constitutional monarchy, an issue that has long been at the back of the minds of the public since the last referendum in 1999. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who is already known to be a republican, is said that it is unlikely now that a further referendum on the monarchy may take place considering last week’s failed vote on Indigenous recognition. On the other hand, many Australians welcomed the visit of King Charles during which he made his first trip to Australia as a monarch.
