During his inaugural visit to Australia as monarch, King Charles faced a fierce protest from Indigenous Australian senator Lidia Thorpe as he concluded a speech at Parliament House in Canberra. Thorpe accused the crown of stealing Aboriginal land and called for a treaty, marking a significant moment during the king's five-day tour with Queen Camilla.
As King Charles wrapped up his address, which touched on his time as a school student in Australia, the impact of the Covid pandemic, and the nation's vulnerability to climate change, Thorpe approached the stage, shouting, "This is not your country." She delivered a passionate condemnation of colonialism, stating, "You committed genocide against our people. Give us our land back. Give us what you stole from us—our bones, our skulls, our babies, our people. We want a treaty in this country. You are a genocidalist."
Security personnel quickly intervened, escorting Thorpe from the hall while she continued to shout, "This is not your land. You are not my king. You are not our king." As she exited, she voiced her frustration, declaring, "Fuck the colony."
Earlier in the day, Thorpe had shown her disapproval by turning her back on a large screen displaying the king during the official welcome ceremony, which included the playing of the national anthem. Before the speech, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and opposition leader Peter Dutton welcomed King Charles and Queen Camilla, expressing gratitude for their ongoing support to Australians.
Albanese praised the king for addressing important issues, including climate change and reconciliation, describing it as one of the greatest honors of his life to have attended the king's coronation. However, former Prime Minister Tony Abbott criticized Thorpe's protest as “unfortunate political exhibitionism.”
Businessman Dick Smith, another attendee at the event, defended Thorpe's actions, stating that such disruptions highlight the strength of Australian democracy, noting, “That’s the wonderful part of our democracy – that she’s not going to be put in jail.”
Earlier on the same day, Thorpe issued a statement advocating for Australia to become a republic and pursue treaties with First Nations peoples. She emphasized the need to resolve "unfinished business" regarding sovereignty before moving toward a republic. "The crown invaded this country and has not sought a treaty with First Peoples," she stated.
The call for treaties between the Australian government and Indigenous peoples has been a longstanding issue, gaining renewed attention following the Uluru Statement from the Heart in 2017, which advocated for voice, treaty, and truth-telling. The statement highlights that Indigenous sovereignty has “never been ceded or extinguished” and coexists with the sovereignty of the Crown.
While some state and territory governments have begun to establish their own treaties, there has been little formal progress on a federal level.
In addition to the protests, King Charles and Queen Camilla engaged with the public at the Australian War Memorial, where they greeted attendees, including a notably dressed alpaca named Hephner. Hephner's owner, Robert Fletcher, explained his motivation for dressing the alpaca as royalty, viewing the royal visit as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Earlier, ACT police reported that Thorpe was part of a protest group near the memorial but complied when directed to move on. Subsequently, a 62-year-old man was arrested outside the memorial for a breach of the peace but was released without charge. A 21-year-old woman was charged for allegedly failing to comply with police directions and faced court later that day.
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