Senator Lidia Thorpe led away after second outburst at royals

Renegade independent senator Lidia Thorpe was escorted away from Parliament after shouting at King Charles, just hours after narrowly avoiding police arrest. Watch video.

Renegade independent senator Lidia Thorpe has disrupted a parliamentary reception for King Charles III and Queen Camilla, telling the monarch he was not her king, just hours after narrowly avoiding police arrest.

The senator was seen screaming, “You are not our king, you are not our sovereign” moments after his address at Parliament House in Canberra.

“Give us our land rights” and “give us what you stole from us ... our babies, our people, you destroyed our land,” she said.

“It’s not your land, you are not our king’.

Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe yells at the King and Queen inside Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire

King Charles turned to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and talked quietly on the podium of the Great Hall as security moved to prevent Senator Thorpe approaching the monarch.

As security staff escorted Senator Thorpe out, the royal couple prepared to talk to some people at the event.

Senator Lidia Thorpe was seen screaming “You are not our king, you are not our sovereign” just moments after his address at Parliament House in Canberra.

Renegade independent senator Lidia Thorpe has disrupted a parliamentary reception for King Charles III and Queen Camilla, telling the monarch he was not her king, just hours after narrowly avoiding police arrest.

Moments earlier, Ms Thorpe had turned her back on King Charles during his address at Parliament.

Senator Lidia Thorpe turns her back to the stage during the Parliamentary reception for King Charles

Senator Thorpe’s office issued a statement saying she was following in the footsteps of her uncle, Robbie Thorpe, who has long advocated for a republic through Treaty, and has been pursuing prosecution of the Crown and King Charles III for genocide crimes.

“There’s unfinished business that we need to resolve before this country can become a republic. This must happen through Treaty,” the statement read.

“We can move towards a Treaty Republic now. The two processes are not opposed, they’re complimentary.”

“As First Peoples, we never ceded our Sovereignty over this land. The Crown invaded this country, has not sought treaty with First Peoples, and committed a Genocide of our people. King Charles is not the legitimate Sovereign of these lands.

“Any move towards a republic must not continue this injustice.”

Senator Thorpe’s office issued a statement saying she was following in the footsteps of her uncle, Robbie Thorpe. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

The protest was slammed by fellow senators who said Ms Thorpe’s actions were “disgusting”.

“I condemn in the strongest possible terms the actions of Senator Lidia Thorpe today at Parliament House where she hurled verbal abuse at our King”, Senator Ralph Babet said.

“To show such utter disrespect to King Charles, who has traveled to Australia, despite ongoing cancer treatment, is disgusting.

“Senator Thorpe has disgraced not only herself and the Australian Parliament, but every Australian man, woman and child.

“Senator Thorpe demanded an apology from King Charles, I’d say it’s King Charles and the Australian people that should be demanding an apology from Senator Thorpe.”

Tasmania Senator and monarchist Eric Abetz agreed Ms Thorpe’s conduct was “disgraceful” and “disrespectful”. Picture: NewsWire.

Tasmania Senator and monarchist Eric Abetz agreed, saying Ms Thorpe’s conduct was “disgraceful” and “disrespectful”.

“If anyone did that to an individual elder she would rightly have words to say as do I,” he said.

“Very poor form Senator.”

Mr Abetz said although her behaviour was “bad”, he did not wish to give her the “pleasure” of being “a political martyr” by reporting her behaviour to the standards commission.

“Bad behaviour speaks for itself,” he said.

“In a free society people are free to behave badly as long as it’s not illegal.

“The Senator would love to make herself a martyr on the back of her bad behaviour and I personally would deny her that pleasure.”

Earlier in the day, Ms Thorpe led a small group of protesters at the barrier of the memorial and was spotted tussling with the police security: Picture: Lukas Coch - AFP.

Earlier in the day, Ms Thorpe led a small group of protesters at the barrier of the memorial and was spotted tussling with the police security over an hour before King Charles and Queen Camilla were expected to arrive.

The fracas kicked off after the officer forced the crowd – seen holding an Aboriginal flag and signs hitting out at the royal couple, into a set area, with another policeman heard shouting “arrest her”, according to The Nightly.

Video of the interaction shows the controversial politician – who is a regular protester, marching away from the female officer in high-vis and removing her red T-shirt.

“Everything that we suffer in this country is because of that colonial invasion,” she said before later rejoining the crowd.

Senator Thorpe’s office has been contacted for comment.

It comes following the independent senator’s latest “stunt” in Federal Parliament last week, where she said she feels “culturally unsafe”.

“We need to free palestine because there’s a genocide going on,” she said after interrupting Shadow Minister for Home Affairs James Paterson who was discussing a Palestinian man’s visa application.

It’s not Ms Thorpe’s first run in with Australian police, having clashed with officers in Canberra in an attempt to oppose an anti-trans rally at parliament house in 2023.

In a separate incident in February this year - the Senate was adjourned early after Ms Thorpe “interjected” proceedings and Labor Senator Helen Polley multiple times and did not stop when asked.

Originally published as Senator Lidia Thorpe led away after second outburst at royals