King Charles III and Queen Camilla's visit to Australia was disrupted by Victorian independent senator Lidia Thorpe today, who shouted “you are not my king” after his address to Parliament.
Thorpe approached the stage, saying: “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.”
Security staff then led Thorpe away. She continued to yell "this is not your land, you are not my king,” and “fuck the colony”.
Before the King's address to Parliament, she turned her back while “God Save the King” played.
Thorpe is Indigenous, and known for her Indigenous rights advocacy. During last year’s Voice to Parliament referendum, she called for a treaty between the Australian Government and Indigenous communities.
“There's unfinished business that we need to resolve before this country can become a republic. This must happen through Treaty,” she said in a statement today.
Thorpe also joined a protest as the King and Queen visited the Australian War Memorial today.
The protesters, who held an Aboriginal flag and signs condemning the King, were told to move before the King and Queen arrived. Australian Federal Police briefly argued with Thorpe before the group complied.
“No arrests were made and police consider the matter finalised,” an AFP spokesperson said.