By Tasnim News (World News) | Created at 2024-10-21 09:30:21 | Updated at 2024-10-21 11:41:08
2 hours ago
The incident occurred during a speech at Parliament House in Canberra, a key moment in the monarch’s five-day visit with Queen Camilla.
As Charles concluded his address to members of parliament and senators, Thorpe approached the stage, shouting, “This is not your country! You committed genocide against our people. Give us our land back. Give us what you stole from us – our bones, our skulls, our babies, our people.” The independent senator from Victoria, known for her outspoken advocacy for Indigenous rights, called the monarch a "genocidalist" and demanded, "We want a treaty."
Security escorted Thorpe out of the Great Hall, where she continued shouting, "This is not your land. You are not my king." Dressed in a traditional possum skin cloak, Thorpe was later heard yelling, “Fuck the colony” as she was ushered into the foyer.
During the disruption, King Charles spoke quietly with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, as security contained the situation. Thorpe had earlier turned her back on a video screen displaying Charles at the welcome ceremony outside Parliament House.
Before the speech, Albanese praised Charles for his engagement on issues such as the climate crisis and reconciliation, describing it as "an honor" to have led the Australian delegation to the king’s coronation. "You have shown great respect for Australians, even as we debate our future relationship with the Crown,” Albanese said. Opposition leader Peter Dutton also welcomed the royal couple, thanking them for their support of Australians through both good and challenging times.
Thorpe released a statement earlier in the day, advocating for a republic and a treaty with Indigenous peoples. “As First Peoples, we never ceded our sovereignty over this land. The Crown invaded this country and committed genocide. Any move toward a republic must not continue this injustice. Treaty must be central to building an independent nation,” she said.
The demand for treaties between Indigenous peoples and Australian governments has been ongoing since colonization. The 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart renewed calls for “Voice, Treaty, and Truth,” urging formal agreements between governments and First Nations. While some state and territory governments have initiated treaty processes, federal progress has been limited.
Earlier on Monday, Charles and Camilla visited the Australian War Memorial, greeting the public and meeting a costumed alpaca named Hephner, whose owner, Robert Fletcher, said, “We just thought, what an opportunity to dress him up as royalty.”
ACT police confirmed that Thorpe was part of a protest near the memorial earlier in the day but complied with police instructions to disperse.
