Lidia Thorpe

Lidia Thorpe: The Senator Who Turned a Royal Reception into a Ruckus!

Senator Lidia Thorpe doesn't back down! After being formally censured for heckling King Charles, she vows to do it all over again!

Lidia Thorpe, independent senator for Victoria, has stirred the pot in Canberra with her audacious protest during King Charles and Queen Camilla's recent visit to Australia. During a ceremonial reception for the royals, Senator Thorpe interrupted proceedings with a firm declaration of her sentiments about the monarchy, loudly exclaiming "not my king!" This bold act was met with both applause from supporters and a significant backlash from her parliamentary peers. A few weeks later, in a dramatic turn of events, the Senate officially censured her for her actions, claiming they contradicted proper decorum expected from a senator.

In a heated response to her censure, Lidia Thorpe didn’t mince words. As she tore up a paper copy of the censure motion, she proclaimed, "Shame on you all," showcasing her fierce defiance. She also expressed her belief that she was unjustly denied the right to be present during the vote, suggesting that the Senate was attempting to silence her dissenting voice. Thorpe has made it clear that she stands by her actions and is not deterred by the reprimand, stating, "I’ll do it again!" This has ignited conversations around the boundaries of political protest and the role of Indigenous voices in Australian politics.

The censure of Lidia Thorpe coincided with the reprimand of another senator, Ralph Babet, who faced his own issues during the vote due to technical difficulties. Together, their censures highlight the increasing tensions within the Senate regarding how protest and expression are handled, particularly when it comes to Indigenous issues and the acknowledgment of Australia's colonial history. Critics argue that the reprimands could potentially stifle important dialogues that need to be addressed within the halls of power.

As debates rage on, the complexities of what it means to uphold democracy and allow for dissent take center stage, and Thorpe’s act of defiance fuels the fire. In recent history, protests at royal visits have not been uncommon, but Thorpe's straightforward approach has certainly left a mark. It reminds us that while some may cow before royalty, others, like Lidia Thorpe, are ready to stand their ground, heckling or not.

Fun fact: Lidia Thorpe is the first member of the Australian parliament to openly acknowledge being an Indigenous senator. In Australia, the discussion surrounding monarchy versus Republicanism continues, with a significant portion of the population looking towards a potential republic in the near future. And just like Lidia's uproar, history shows that every royal visit in Australia has sparked its fair share of protests and debates, showcasing the changing tides of public sentiment toward the monarchy!