Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe has been formally censured after the major parties united to pass a motion condemning her outburst against King Charles III last month.
Labor Senator Penny Wong’s motion on Nov. 18 passed with 46 senators voting in favour, and 12 against it.
Additionally, United Australia Senator Ralph Babet also faced a censure motion following a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), which included “racist and homophobic slurs.”
“We all know both senators are engaging in these behaviours precisely in order to get attention, engaging in actions and stunts designed to create storms in social media, but offering nothing of substance to improve anyone’s life,” Wong said.
During the king’s visit, Thorpe began yelling accusations at the monarchy during an official event attended by federal parliamentarians.
Thorpe accused the Crown of stealing Indigenous land.
“The truth is, this colony is built on stolen land, stolen wealth, and stolen lives,” Thorpe yelled as she was escorted out of the venue.
After the protest, she issued a statement explaining her motives, pointing to Australia’s record on Indigenous deaths in custody and child removals.
“We have 24,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care in 2024: it’s worse than the Stolen Generation. We have over 600 deaths in custody that we know about,” she said.
Senator Wong, who moved the motion, said the actions sought to incite outrage and grievance.
“This is part of a trend that we do see internationally, but frankly, we do not need here in Australia,” she added.
She also called for standards to be upheld during official visits.
Thorpe is no stranger to controversy and public stunts.
In 2022 during her swearing-in ceremony, she modified the words to her official oath when taking office.
Opposition Backs Motion
The motion was backed by the Liberal leader of the opposition in the Senate, Senator Simon Birmingham.“I echo the words of Senator Wong in terms of the deep concern at the behaviour that pursues attention-seeking, brings this chamber into disrespect and reflects poorly upon the conduct of senators through the actions of just a few in relation to Senator Thorpe.”
Thorpe Does Not Back Down
In response, Thorpe later ripped up the censure documents and said she would “do it again” while speaking about colonialism.Nationals Senator Criticises Process
Nationals Senator Matt Canavan said that although he supported the motion, he voted against it because Thorpe was not in the chamber.“I support the motion the government’s putting forward, but I also absolutely support the right of my colleague, Senator Thorpe, to be in the chamber to hear the arguments against her,” he said.
Canavan criticised the process, describing it as a “kangaroo court style” where the defendant was not present to defend herself.
Greens Senator Says Thorpe ‘Telling the Truth’
Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi condemned the motion, accusing Labor and the Coalition of silencing Thorpe for “telling the truth.”“I thought we still live in a democracy. We have a right to protest. We have a right to dissent. We have a right to disrupt, and that’s what Senator Thorpe did,” she said.
Faruqi Mentions Pauline Hanson Court Case
The Greens senator also questioned why One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson was not criticised for her remarks. A court recently found Hanson had violated the Racial Discrimination Act over an X post where she told the senator to go back to Pakistan.The senator is raising money to appeal the verdict.
Meanwhile, Wong countered Faruqi’s claim reminding her that Labor had supported her in the past.
“I would remind you that when Senator Hanson first raised her views on Asian immigration ... about Australia being swamped by Asians, there were many of us inside the Labor Party and inside the community who worked, protested, and advocated against her.
“I would also remind you of the motion we passed in support of you and the speech I gave in support of you in relation to her words about you,” Wong said.
