Senate Censures Lidia Thorpe for Outburst During Official Ceremony With King Charles III

Senator Thorpe has a storied history of public outbursts and stunts in the name of anti-colonialism.
Senate Censures Lidia Thorpe for Outburst During Official Ceremony With King Charles III
Australian politician, former Greens now independent Senator Lidia Thorpe heckles King Charles III during the ceremonial welcome and Parliamentary reception at the Australian Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on Oct. 21, 2024. Victoria Jones - Pool/Getty Images
Naziya Alvi Rahman
Updated:
0:00

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.

In 2023, Thorpe was knocked down by police after she rushed a rally featuring women’s rights activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull.

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.”

Birmingham clarified that the motion was not about defending Thorpe’s right to express her views, but about her conduct.

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.

However, Wong confirmed that Thorpe will be given an opportunity to speak later.

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 took aim at the parliament, calling it divisive and a patron of white supremacy. She was interrupted by the speaker, who asked her to withdraw her remarks.

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.

Naziya Alvi Rahman
Naziya Alvi Rahman
Author
Naziya Alvi Rahman is a Canberra-based journalist who covers political issues in Australia. She can be reached at [email protected].
Related Topics