In a dramatic display of defiance, independent senator Lidia Thorpe ripped up the motion censuring her protest against King Charles, vowing to do it again if the monarch returns to Australia. The Senate passed the censure 46-12 on Monday morning, rebuking Thorpe for her controversial interruption of a royal reception where she accused the king of genocide against indigenous people.
Thorpe, who arrived late to the session due to flight delays, slammed the Senate for denying her the right to be present and speak in her own defense before the vote. She claimed she only received notice of the looming censure that morning while en route to Canberra.
If the colonising king were to come to my country again, our country, then I’ll do it again.
Lidia Thorpe, Independent Senator
Thorpe Undeterred by Senate Rebuke
Despite the formal reprimand, Thorpe remained staunchly unapologetic about her actions. Tearing the paper copy of the censure motion, she declared she would “use it for kindling.” The firebrand senator, known for her passionate advocacy for indigenous rights, insisted the Senate’s disapproval would not silence her.
“They don’t mind what I said, it’s how I said it. They need to check themselves,” Thorpe stated defiantly. “I’m not one to be shut down … you’ve got three and a half years left of me.”
Government Moves Censure Motions
The government, led by Senate leader Penny Wong, reluctantly introduced the censure motion against Thorpe, along with a separate one against United Australia Party senator Ralph Babet for an inflammatory social media post. Wong accused both senators of attention-seeking behavior designed to stoke outrage and boost their own profiles.
These are actions which seek to incite outrage and grievance, actually to boost their own profiles, and this is part of a trend that we do see internationally, but quite frankly we don’t need here in Australia.
Penny Wong, Senate Leader and Foreign Affairs Minister
Divisions Over Censure Process
While the Coalition backed both censure motions, some senators expressed reservations about the process. Nationals senator Matt Canavan, who called Babet a “mate”, opposed the rebukes, arguing it was a “kangaroo court” since neither senator had a chance to speak before the vote.
Wong countered that most senators managed to attend the opening session on time, and Thorpe and Babet would have an opportunity to address the censures later in the day. The controversy underscores the deep divisions and impassioned debates over Australia’s colonial legacy and the push for indigenous sovereignty.
Thorpe’s Unwavering Stance
For Thorpe, the censure has only strengthened her resolve to keep fighting for First Nations justice, no matter how provocative her methods may be. As an outspoken critic of the monarchy and its historical role in the oppression of indigenous people, she sees her protest as a necessary act of resistance.
“Why wasn’t I allowed to be here?” Thorpe demanded as she interrupted the Babet censure debate. Her late arrival and combative stance underscore the depth of her convictions and her refusal to be cowed by parliamentary disapproval.
As Australia grapples with its colonial past and the push for indigenous rights intensifies, figures like Thorpe will undoubtedly remain at the forefront, sparking both admiration and controversy. The Senate censure may have formally condemned her actions, but it has done little to dampen her determination to speak truth to power, even in the face of a king.
