In a startling disruption that brought long-simmering tensions to the fore, King Charles III’s address to the Australian Parliament was interrupted by Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe, a fierce advocate for Indigenous rights. As the monarch concluded his speech, Thorpe approached the stage, yelling, “This is not your country,” and demanding a treaty for Australia’s First Peoples.
A Monarch’s Visit Meets Indigenous Resistance
King Charles III and Queen Camilla are currently on a five-day visit to Australia, with the speech at Parliament House in Canberra intended as a key moment of the trip. The King touched on his time as a student in Australia, the shared challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the country’s vulnerability to climate change. However, it was Senator Thorpe’s impassioned interjection that cast a shadow over the proceedings.
As the King finished speaking, Thorpe walked determinedly up the aisle towards the stage, her voice ringing out: “You stole from us. You destroyed our land. Give us a treaty. We want a treaty in this country.” Security officers quickly moved to escort the senator back to the door, but her message had been delivered. Thorpe could be heard shouting, “This is not your land. You are not my king. You are not our king,” as she was led away.
Unfinished Business: The Push for Indigenous Sovereignty
Senator Thorpe’s actions, while shocking to some, are rooted in the long history of Indigenous dispossession and the ongoing fight for recognition and rights. In a statement released earlier in the day, Thorpe argued that Australia should become a republic and establish a treaty with First Nations people as part of that process.
“As First Peoples, we never ceded our Sovereignty over this land. The Crown invaded this country, has not sought treaty with First Peoples, and committed a genocide of our people. King Charles is not the legitimate Sovereign of these lands.”
– Senator Lidia Thorpe
For Thorpe and many Indigenous activists, the issue of treaty is inseparable from any discussion of Australia’s constitutional future. They argue that true independence and reconciliation cannot be achieved without first addressing the unresolved question of Indigenous sovereignty.
A Nation Grapples with Its Past and Future
The incident at Parliament House lays bare the complex and often fraught relationship between the Australian nation, the British monarchy, and the continent’s First Peoples. While Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton welcomed the King and Queen, thanking them for standing with Australians through good times and bad, Senator Thorpe’s protest served as a stark reminder that not all Australians feel represented or heard in these ceremonial occasions.
As Albanese noted in his own remarks, “You have shown great respect for Australians, even during times where we’ve debated the future of our own constitutional arrangements and the nature of our relationship with the Crown. Nothing stands still.” Indeed, the question of whether Australia should become a republic, severing its ties to the British monarchy, has been a topic of national debate for decades.
However, for Indigenous Australians like Senator Thorpe, the republican movement is incomplete without a reckoning with the legacy of colonization and a formal agreement enshrining Indigenous rights and sovereignty. The call for a treaty echoes the long-standing demands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, who have never ceded their lands or accepted the legitimacy of the Crown’s claim to rule over them.
The Road Ahead: Reconciliation and Reform
As shocking as Senator Thorpe’s protest may have been to some, it serves as a potent reminder that Australia’s path forward must involve a genuine and meaningful engagement with its Indigenous peoples. The wounds of the past cannot be healed without acknowledgment, reparation, and a commitment to building a more just and equitable future.
For the monarchy, too, this incident underscores the challenges of maintaining relevance and respect in a rapidly changing world. As King Charles III assumes the throne, he must navigate not only the domestic constitutional debates of the United Kingdom, but also the complex relationships with the Commonwealth realms, many of which are grappling with their own histories of colonialism and Indigenous dispossession.
Ultimately, Senator Thorpe’s protest at Parliament House is a clarion call for Australia to confront its unfinished business, to have the difficult conversations about treaty, sovereignty, and the future of the nation. It is a reminder that true reconciliation and unity cannot be achieved without first acknowledging the truths of the past and committing to a process of healing and reform.
As Australia looks to the future, it must do so with courage, compassion, and a willingness to listen to the voices of those who have been silenced for too long. Only then can the nation move forward together, building a society that is truly inclusive, just, and respectful of all its peoples.
