The Senate voted 46-12 to condemn her actions as “disrespectful and disruptive” after her protest during King Charles’ visit to Canberra last month, BBC reports.
Lidia Thorpe has been disqualified from representing the Australian Senate in delegations following a censure motion passed on Monday.
The Senate voted 46-12 to condemn her actions as “disrespectful and disruptive” after her protest during King Charles’ visit to Canberra last month, BBC reports.
Thorpe shouted, “you are not my King” and “this is not your land” after the King’s address in the Great Hall of Parliament, to draw attention to the effects of British colonisation.
The censure motion, although symbolic and carrying no legal weight, stated that her actions disqualified her from representing the chamber in delegations.
After the vote, Thorpe said she had been denied the chance to respond in the chamber due to a flight delay.
She stated, “The British Crown committed heinous crimes against the first peoples of this country… I will not be silent.”
The protest sparked criticism from across the political spectrum, including some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders.
However, it was praised by activists who viewed it as a powerful statement highlighting the ongoing struggles of Indigenous Australians, who continue to face significant disadvantages.
Despite the protest, King Charles was warmly welcomed in Australia, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praising the King’s respect during the visit.
Thorpe, a well-known Indigenous activist, previously referred to Queen Elizabeth II as a “coloniser” during her 2022 swearing-in ceremony, which drew controversy.
Last year, she was a leading opponent of the failed Voice referendum, which aimed to grant constitutional recognition to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
