A dramatic moment unfolded in Australia’s parliament when Senator Lidia Thorpe interrupted the King’s address, shouting, “This is not your land. You are not my King.” Wearing traditional clothing, Thorpe marched down the aisle, demanding the return of land and accusing the monarchy of historical injustices. “Give us our land back. Give us what you stole from us! Our bones, our skulls, our babies, our people,” she cried. “You are not sovereign… you have committed genocide against our people.”
Thorpe’s Defiant Stand Against the Monarchy
Security swiftly intervened to prevent Thorpe from approaching the King, escorting her out of the chamber. Thorpe, the first Aboriginal woman from the state of Victoria to serve as a senator, has a history of rejecting royal authority. When sworn into office, she refused to pledge allegiance to the late Queen. Earlier in the day, she was also part of a protest during the royals’ visit to a war memorial.
Calls for Apology from Indigenous Leaders
Thorpe’s outburst followed the King’s speech to Australian politicians and dignitaries at Parliament House in Canberra. Earlier, an indigenous leader, Aunty Serena Williams from the Ngunnawal people, who performed a “Welcome to Country” and smoking ceremony, called for an apology from the King for colonial-era wrongs. “I think an apology would be beautiful,” she said, when asked if the King should personally say sorry.
King Acknowledges Indigenous Ceremony but Stops Short of Apology
In his address, the King acknowledged Aunty Serena Williams’ ceremony, expressing “deep” appreciation for the opportunity to honor the traditional owners of the land. “In my many visits to Australia, I witnessed the courage and hope that have guided the nation’s long and sometimes difficult journey towards reconciliation,” the King remarked. However, he stopped short of offering the formal apology that many indigenous leaders had hoped to hear.
4o
