Lidia Thorpe: Australia senator censured for 'not my King' heckle

Senator Lidia Thorpe, an Australian politician known for her forthright views and activism, recently made headlines for her exclamatory protest "not my King" during a formal ceremony last month. This bold declaration, markedly opposed to the ceremonial acknowledgment of King Charles III, has led the Senate to censure her—a formal rebuke that underscores the tension between traditional protocols and individual expressions of political and personal beliefs within the chambers of governmental institutions. Lidia Thorpe, representing the Greens party, has been a prominent voice for indigenous rights and environmental issues in Australia. Her protest was not just a spontaneous outburst but a calculated expression of dissent against the monarchy and what it symbolizes in the context of Australia's colonial history and ongoing struggles for Indigenous sovereignty and recognition. The censure motion against Thorpe reflects a significant moment in Australian politics, highlighting the complexities of reconciling Australia's colonial past and monarchical ties with its present-day democratic and multicultural identity. The Senate's decision to rebuke Thorpe for her protest underscores the legislative body's commitment to maintaining a level of decorum and respect for traditional structures and relationships, which include the monarchy's ceremonial role in Australian government. Thorpe's heckle, "not my King," during the swearing-in ceremony, was more than an opposition to the person of King Charles III; it was a declaration of her, and by extension, many Indigenous Australians' desire for recognition, reconciliation, and sovereignty. Australia, with its painful history of colonization, has seen an