Caleb Bond’s message to Lidia Thorpe: ‘Walk out’

Nobody is forcing Senator Lidia Thorpe to take the $217,000 annual salary and other privileges courtesy of the taxpayer, writes Caleb Bond.

OPINION

Why doesn’t Lidia Thorpe simply walk out the front doors of Parliament House and never return?

The publicly-funded Senator for Victoria clearly has no love or respect for Australia.

She believes the system in which she participates — our Westminster model of government — is illegitimate and controlling land to which it has no right.

So why not do the honourable thing and give up your salary and other privileges, courtesy of the taxpayer?

Her interruption of the reception of King Charles and Queen Camilla at Parliament House was a treasonous disgrace.

First she turned her back while the national anthem played. Then she stood up and yelled about the King being involved in genocide, stealing babies, destroying land and told him that “you are not our King”.

This may all come as a surprise to a man who, in his lifetime, has seen umpteen nations gain independence from Britain and is well known for his support of environmental conservation.

And yes, he is your King.

“F*** the colony,” she screamed.

Lidia Thorpe during Monday’s outburst towards King Charles. Picture: Victoria Jones - Pool/Getty Images

You don’t have to be here, Lidia. And no one is forcing you to take $217,000 a year to be part of the system you claim is oppressing your people.

Some of your people, anyway.

Thorpe later claimed that she was prevented from serving King Charles with a summons to the International Criminal Court on charges of genocide.

She was, in fact, prevented from making more of a goose of herself when she was dragged out of the Great Hall.

It would have to be one of the most pathetic, puerile examples of political grandstanding I have ever seen.

The dignified and proper way to protest the presence of the King and Queen, if that is your bent, would be to not show up and publicly announce that you will not be seen in the same room as him.

Again, I don’t think you ought to be an MP or senator if you can’t respect the head of state’s position but at least that would save the theatrics.

For Thorpe, though, it is all about the theatrics. There’s no point protesting unless people take notice.

God knows she has to justify her cushy lifestyle somehow — mostly by bringing some misery to everyone else’s life.

That juvenile display was not about indigenous rights. It was all about her.

The Senator’s protest took place during a visit by Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla at a Parliamentary reception in Canberra. Picture: Victoria Jones/Pool via REUTERS

Did she notice that the King himself spoke about the importance of Australia’s indigenous heritage and that he has been welcomed to country by Aboriginal people at most places he has visited?

Does she consider those who have welcomed him traitors to the cause?

She swore an oath to Queen Elizabeth II at the formation of this senate. Having now publicly stated that her successor is “not my King”, why should she have any right to remain in parliament? She has clearly rescinded her oath.

And how was she allowed to join the crowd in the first place?

Yes, all MPs and senators were invited – but she had already participated in a protest near the Australian War Memorial, which the King was visiting, earlier that day where she was involved in a scuffle with a police officer.

It was obvious what she would do. And being willing to protest at a war memorial tells you everything you need to know about her character.

Thorpe may be elected but she does not represent this country.

The sooner she fades back into obscurity, where she belongs, the better.