In October, Senator Lidia Thorpe, the first aboriginal person to be elected senator for Victoria, walked down the central aisle of the Great Hall of Parliament House to heckle the King. “This is not your land! You are not my King!” Senator Thorpe, who was first elected as a member of the Greens then deserted to join the independent cross-bench, is outspoken in her rejection of the British monarch’s sovereignty in Australia, and unforgiving for the Crown’s role in the decimation of native populations on the island.
Before being led out by security, she shouted “you committed genocide against our people; give us our land back; give us back what you stole from us; our bones, our skulls, our babies, our people; you destroyed our land, give us a treaty, we want a treaty in this country.”
‘Wonderful part of our democracy’
Reaction to Senator Thorpe’s comments have been mixed across the board. There were those who supported her, such as Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts, a Bundjalung lawyer, author, and aboriginal rights activist who said there was “nothing more harmful or disrespectful” than inviting the monarch in the first place.
There were those who supported her right to protest, such as businessman Dick Smith, who commented “I think that’s the wonderful part of our democracy — that she’s not going to be put in jail”.
There were also those who you would expect to criticise her, such as supporters of the monarchy, including former PM Tony Abbott who said “it’s unfortunate political exhibitionism, that’s all I’d say”.
However, Senator Thorpe also attracted criticism from natural allies. Nova Peris, the first aboriginal woman to be elected to the Australian Parliament and a long-time republican campaigner, wrote on X: “Australia is moving forward in its journey of reconciliation… as hard as that journey is, it requires respectful dialogue, mutual understanding, and a shared commitment to healing – not divisive actions that draw attention away from the progress we are making as a country”.
But what effect will Senator Thorpe’s protest have on aboriginal rights? Likely, not much. The rights of aboriginal peoples has always been a controversial topic in Australian politics, with many First Nation leaders being divided on how they should be improved. The most stark example of this was the Voice referendum which was held last year.
The 2023 ‘Voice’ Referendum
One of the key election pledges from Anthony Albanese, Australia’s Prime Minister and Labor Party leader, was to hold a referendum on aboriginal rights. Australia is the only commonwealth country which has not signed a treaty with its indigenous people, which Albanese argued should be rectified by his ‘Voice’ proposal.
Supporters of the Voice also argued it could help reduce inequalities. Indigenous Australians’ lifespans are seven to eight years shorter, and indigenous children represent 51% of all children in care despite being 3% of the population.
The vote asked Australians whether there should be an amendment to the constitution to recognise First Nation peoples and to form a body through which they can advise the government.
The result? 60.1% of Australians voted no, compared to 39.9% who voted yes. Perhaps not the best start to Albanese’s term.
The Leader of the Opposition, Peter Dutton, announced that his Liberal Party would oppose the Voice, saying: “Instead of being ‘one’, we will be divided – in spirit, and in law”. Although his comments received pushback from some Liberal Party members and politicians, his opposition was widely expected. But the Liberals were not the only one leading a campaign against it; so was Senator Lidia Thorpe.
Senator Thorpe, who resigned from the Green Party shortly before they announced their support for the “Yes” campaign, argued that there should be a treaty and a truth-telling process before any referendum. This idea draws inspiration from the truth and justice commission first implemented by South Africa, when the country sought to reconcile South Africans at the end of apartheid.
Previously, Thorpe had hesitated to give her full endorsement to the “No” campaign, but decided to backtrack after a breakdown in negotiations between her and the federal government.
Lidia Thorpe always has been a fierce campaigner and advocate for the rights of aboriginal Australians. In this respect, it’s no surprise that she protested the arrival of King Charles. But with a failed referendum, an unenthusiastic public and opposition in Parliament, it seems that any significant advancement in aboriginal rights has been kicked down the road.
The result of the Voice referendum continues to split Australians and overshadow Albanese’s premiership, but make no mistake – it’s unlikely this will be the last time Australians vote on this issue. Senator Thorpe’s protest will make sure of that.
