By james art Senator Lydia Thorpe waited until the end of Charles’ landmark speech at the Australian Parliament House in the country’s capital Canberra to verbally attack him and claim “genocide” had been committed against the country’s Indigenous population by the Commonwealth.
Charles and Camilla have faced quiet protests during their tour of Australia, which began on Monday, from supporters of First Nations resistance to colonization, who have displayed a banner with the word “decolonize” at a number of events.
As Mrs Thorpe was carefully led from the hall, she shouted: “You are not our king, you are not our sovereign… you have committed genocide against our people.
“Give us back our land. Give us what you stole from us… Our babies, Our people. You have destroyed our land.
She continued: “Give us a treaty – we want a treaty with this country… This is not your land, this is not your land, you are not my king, you are not our king.”
The outburst by an elected representative is likely to be seen as an embarrassment for Charles, who is making his first visit to Australia as king.
Ms Thorpe sits as an independent member of the upper house of the Australian Parliament and issued a statement ahead of the royal visit saying that through the treaty negotiations,
“As the first people, we have never relinquished our sovereignty over this land. The Crown invaded this country, did not seek a treaty with the First Nations and committed genocide against our people. King Charles is not the legitimate sovereign of these lands,” she said before her mini-protest.
“Any movement towards a republic must not perpetuate this injustice. The treaty should play a central role in the creation of an independent nation. A republic without a treaty should not exist.
The king is understood to have been unfazed and won’t let the outburst overshadow what the royal party thought was a lovely day in the Australian capital, which saw them greet hundreds of well-wishers at the national war memorial – including a sneezing alpaca.
Earlier, hundreds of people gathered outside Australia’s Parliament House for a chance to meet the royal couple.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has a long-standing goal of holding a referendum on severing ties with the British monarchy and making his country a republic.
But the plans were shelved after Australians overwhelmingly rejected a plan to give greater political rights to indigenous peoples in a referendum held last year.
The king is understood to have been unfazed and won’t let the outburst overshadow what the royal party thought was a lovely day in the Australian capital, which saw them greet hundreds of well-wishers at the national war memorial, including a sneezing alpaca.
Ms Thorpe sits as an independent member of the upper house of the Australian Parliament and issued a statement ahead of the royal visit saying that through treaty negotiations First Peoples should play a key role in rewriting the constitution.
She said before her small protest: “As the first people, we have never ceded our sovereignty over this land.
“The Crown invaded this country, did not seek a treaty with First Nations and committed genocide against our people.
“King Charles is not the rightful sovereign of these lands.
“Any movement towards a republic must not perpetuate this injustice.
“The treaty must play a central role in the creation of an independent nation.
“There should be no republic without a contract.
“It is disappointing and weak that the government of Albania has reneged on its Treaty promise.
“It delays justice for the first people of the land and delays our ability to sever our ties with the Crown.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has a long-standing goal of holding a referendum on severing ties with the British monarchy and making his country a republic.
But the plans were shelved after Australians overwhelmingly rejected a plan to give greater political rights to indigenous peoples in a referendum held last year.