Australian senate censures Indigenous lawmaker who yelled at King Charles III
Associated Press18 hrs
Australia: Indigenous Senator Censured Over Royal Protest
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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 Facts
On Monday, the Australian Senate voted 46-12 to censure independent lawmaker Lidia Thorpe for her protest against King Charles III during his parliamentary visit to Australia last month. Senator Ralph Babet of the United Australia party was also censured for posting a tweet that included multiple offensive slurs.
During a parliamentary reception, Thorpe confronted the King and yelled, "You committed genocide against our people," and "You are not our king."
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.
