Senator Murray Watt has been called a ‘d..k’ on ABC’s Q+A program

Federal minister Murray Watt was called a “d..k” and Senator Lidia Thorpe was described as the “queen of irrelevancy” during a spicy segment on Q+A.

Senator Lidia Thorpe has been described as the “queen of irrelevancy” and Senator Murray Watt was called a “dick” on the ABC’s Q+A program on Monday.

Host Patricia Karvelas took the show to Brisbane this week ahead of the Queensland state election on Saturday, which is expected to see Labor lose power after 10 years in government.

On the panel were Queensland senators including Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt, LNP senator Susan McDonald and Greens senator Larissa Waters.

They were joined by political strategist Scott Emerson, who was a former LNP minister and is now a co-director of a bipartisan consultancy company GXO Strategies.

The panel on Q+A for Monday night's episode from Brisbane including host Patricia Karvelas, Senator Susan McDonald, Senator Murray Watt, Senator Larissa Waters and political strategist Scott Emerson. Picture: ABC

But the Senator Thorpe’s protest which disrupted official proceedings in front of a reception with King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Parliament House on Monday took centre stage.

Mr Emerson told the audience Senator Thorpe – who was removed from the Great Hall by security, making global headlines – was the “queen of irrelevancy.”

“Every time she gets coverage it’s only because she’s yelling at someone,” he said.

“She should have done what Larissa Waters did. If she didn’t support the monarchy, didn’t want to be there, don’t turn up.

“Every time I see Lidia Thorpe, she is yelling at someone.”

Greens senator Larissa Waters and former Queensland LNP minister Scott Emerson on Monday night's QandA program. Picture: ABC

A Guren Gureng man Daniel from the Bundaberg region of Queensland brought up Senator Thorpe’s protest asking the panellists if they supported the return of Aboriginal remains and artefacts that were held in the UK.

He said Senator Thorpe’s message was an important issue still affecting Indigenous Australians.

“We’re talking about 200 years of pain that is continuing to be unanswered and unresolved,” he said.

“The monarchy, the UK, and the Australian government, we are all part of this Commonwealth and we are in a position to affect this change and bring about some real reconciliation for Australians.”

Senator Lidia Thorpe disrupts proceedings as Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla attend a Parliamentary reception at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Lukas Coch.

Senator Watt said the actions of his fellow senator were unfortunate but it was something he saw every week in the senate.

“Her and Pauline Hanson, one is from Queensland, and not a week goes by without the two of them at each other’s throats, disrupting the senate trying to grandstand, and for what?” Senator Watt said.

“I was in the room when it happened and was not aware until this very moment this is the issue she was raising today.

“I don’t think it got the message through to anyone in the room.

An audience member yelled out, “We’re talking about it now, dick,” before the conversation moved on.

Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt on Q+A on Monday night said he had no idea why Lidia Thorpe was protesting at the King’s reception. Picture: ABC

Host Patricia Karvelas said the comment wouldn’t be tolerated.

Senator Thorpe caused a stir when she yelled out a demand for “treaty”, telling the King “you stole our land”, as audible groans could be heard in the Great Hall.

“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. You destroyed our land,” she shouted, while dressed in a native fur coat.

Originally published as Senator Murray Watt has been called a ‘d..k’ on ABC’s Q+A program