Adelaide Indigenous elder Katrina Ngaityalya Power’s angry ’rant’ at manufacturing sector government breakfast

An Aboriginal elder left breakfast goers stunned after calling for the King to be “dethroned”, attacking “no” Voice voters and likening the referendum result to the war in Gaza, witnesses say.

Proud Kaurna grandmother, journalist and Aboriginal activist Katrina Power. Picture: Tricia Watkinson.

An Adelaide Indigenous leader used a taxpayer event to call for the King to be “dethroned”, attack “no” Voice voters for leaving her powerless and likened the referendum result to the war in Gaza, witnesses claim.

Kaurna elder Katrina Ngaityalya Power gave the “Welcome to Country” at a state government business breakfast on Wednesday, at which the official manufacturing strategy was released.

But Ms Power, a high-profile journalist and activist, left more than 400 shocked guests at the Industry, Innovation and Science department breakfast stunned at her outspoken attack.

Witnesses told how after being clapped to the Adelaide Convention Centre stage, the grandmother told guests how she “deserved” a better applause and how the event was being held on “stolen” land.

Ms Power is an outspoken, passionate Kaurna elder. Pictiure: Tricia Watkinson.

In what some described as a “rant”, she told how “seven in 10 of you” didn’t want her to “have a voice” and she could “understand” what it was like for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

She then told how her next goal was to campaign for Australia to become a Republic and how King Charles III needed to be “dethroned”.

Guests told how she was given a lukewarm clap before Deputy Premier Susan Close, Treasurer Stephen Mullighan and department chief executive Adam Reid thanked her for her powerful speech.

She has previously been criticised for her welcomes on Anzac Day where she used words such as “invasion” and “slavery” and also calling former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull “Malcolm Cowshit”.

Upper House Liberal MP Ben Hood, who attended Wednesday’s event, said: “It’s inappropriate for this kind of highly political commentary to occur at a taxpayer-funded event.

“(It was) a huge shock that it was warmly welcomed and supported by Malinauskas Labor Ministers.”

Neither Dr Close nor Mr Mullighan would comment on Wednesday. The government would not say if Ms Power was paid.

But a government spokesman said: “In our liberal democracy, people are free to express their views.

“The government does not script or vet the remarks of people delivering a Welcome to Country at government events.”

Neither Ms Power nor Mr Reid – who also hosted a panel – responded to inquiries.