Indigenous Australian MP Lidia Thorpe made international headlines recently after confronting King Charles during his royal tour, accusing the British monarchy of genocide. The fiery exchange occurred at Parliament House in Canberra, where Thorpe, 51, demanded the return of Indigenous land and restitution for past injustices. She boldly declared, “Give us what you stole from us – our bones, our skulls, our babies, our people,” before being escorted away by security.
Thorpe, an Indigenous woman from Victoria, has long been an advocate for a treaty between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians to address historical injustices and recognise Indigenous autonomy. Despite the disruption caused by Thorpe’s protest, the royal tour continued without further mention of the incident.
In a subsequent interview with the BBC, Thorpe explained that her actions were intended to send a clear message to King Charles, emphasising that true sovereignty comes from being connected to the land, something she believes the monarch lacks.
A Gunnai, Gunditjmara and Djab Wurrung woman, Thorpe has a history of activism for Indigenous causes. Her election as the first Indigenous woman to the Victorian state parliament in 2017 marked a significant milestone. Although she briefly lost her seat in 2018, Thorpe was later selected as a senator for the Green Party in the federal government in 2020.
During her parliamentary swearing-in ceremony, Thorpe made a powerful statement by raising her hand in a black power salute, wearing a traditional possum-skin cloak and holding an Aboriginal message stick inscribed with 441 marks representing Aboriginal deaths in custody. These actions exemplify her unwavering dedication to advocating for Indigenous rights and justice.
Thorpe’s decision to become an independent in 2023 was driven by her commitment to amplifying the Indigenous sovereign movement. Her disagreements within the Greens regarding Indigenous representation in parliament led her to take this decisive step. Despite facing challenges and controversies, including a highly publicised altercation outside a Melbourne strip club in 2023, Thorpe remains steadfast in her support for Indigenous Australians.
In anticipation of King Charles’s visit, Thorpe issued a statement asserting that the British monarch is not the legitimate sovereign of Australia and accused the monarchy of genocide against Indigenous people. She called for a treaty to address the unresolved issues stemming from Australia’s colonial past and pave the way for a Treaty Republic.
The ongoing debate about the British monarchy’s role in Australia resurfaced, highlighting the unresolved tensions surrounding the country’s path to sovereignty and republicanism. With Thorpe’s bold actions and unwavering advocacy, she continues to be a prominent voice in the fight for Indigenous rights and recognition in Australia.