Thorpe unmasks the coloniser who visited genocide on Australia’s First Nations

Oct 23, 2024
Australian senator Lidia Thorpe protests during the Ceremonial Welcome to Australia for King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Australian Parliament House in Canberra, marking the King's first visit as sovereign to Australian Parliament House, on day two of the royal visit to Australia and Samoa.Picture date: Monday October 21, 2024.. See PA story ROYAL Tour. Image:AAP/ Victoria Jones/PA Wire

Both Charles and Camilla are having their gilt edged fault lines exposed on their Australian tour. We should be thankful for Lidia Thorpe’s courage and outspokenness.

Having failed to support the referendum to place an Indigenous Voice in the Constitution, Senator Lidia Thorpe has shown she has the courage to use her own voice on behalf of all Australians, and particularly First Nations peoples by telling the British Royals they are unwelcome here.

Britain was and remains the invader in Australia. Australians did not cede their sovereignty, despite the sycophancy of some politicians.

For her plain – Australian – speaking, Senator Thorpe was manhandled out of the Great Hall of Canberra’s Parliament House. Exactly how the decision to evict her was taken is not clear. While the Great Hall might not be the Chamber, it is a matter of parliamentary privilege that Senator Thorpe should not be constrained within the environs of the parliament. The tradition arose as a direct result of the actions of King Charles the First in proroguing unfriendly assemblies and arresting his critics.

The only way a parliamentarian should be excluded is through order of the Presiding Officer – President of the Senate – usually after a vote directing him or her to do so. It would be interesting to know from where the authority to silence Senator Thorpe came. Was it a nod from the Prime Minister?

We should hear no further hypocrisy about democracy from the royals. Whether Senator Thorpe’s outburst could be considered impolite is hardly relevant. Democracy is not about manners but about accountability and truth. MPs should be able to speak fearlessly without fear of repercussions – legal or social.

Charles had the option of approaching Senator Thorpe and facing her criticism. We have often seen ceremonial hostility enacted across Africa and the Pacific with smiling royals welcoming the attention. The problem on this occasion was that there was too much accountability, too much truth and too much democracy.

Apparently, both C & C earlier signed an historic bible. There was a problem there also as CIII, when the mere Prince of Wales, had signed the book along with his then wife, the hugely popular Princess Diana.

Now we find that Camilla is to give her advice to Australians on domestic violence. While it is possible Camilla could have some helpful suggestions, there are serious grounds to doubt her bona fides in this area. Like her husband, she represents the coloniser which visited genocide on Australia’s First Nations.

The continuing horrendous record of violence experienced by Indigenous women originated in the force used by the British to subjugate the proud First Nations. And of course the British did this for profit, which flowed into the pockets of generations of royals and remains there. Any contribution from the royal coffers to assist in campaigns against domestic violence would be welcome. Such donation would of course be a small balm to British consciences.

During a British cricket tour some years ago, the Barmy Army taunted Australian spectators by chanting that ‘your next Queen will be Camilla’. Perhaps of the two Cs Camilla was the easier target, but they might have had a jibe at CIII as well. What a pity the Barmy Army is not in action today to witness the pathetic duo on tour and to immortalise Lidia Thorpe’s justified challenge.

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