During a recent visit to Australia, King Charles III faced intense criticism from Indigenous Senator Lidia Thorpe, who accused him of “genocide” against Indigenous peoples. This trip marks Charles’ first official tour of Australia since becoming king following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. As head of state for several Commonwealth nations, the visit was highly anticipated but came with its share of controversies.
Senator Thorpe, dressed in a traditional possum skin cloak, was removed from Parliament after her outburst, which included demands for the return of Indigenous lands and relics. She shouted, “You committed genocide against our people. Give us our land back.” She expressed a clear call for a treaty between Indigenous Australians and the government, noting that Australia is the only former British colony without one.
Thorpe later explained her stance, stating, “To be sovereign you have to be of the land. He is not of this land.” The king’s journey was already clouded by controversy; all Australian state premiers declined invitations to an official welcome event before he even arrived.
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In response to the ongoing debates about Australia’s ties to the British monarchy, the Australian Republican Movement used Charles’ visit to advocate for independence, calling it a “farewell tour.” Meanwhile, Aunty Serena Williams, an elder from the Ngunnawal Nation, led a “Welcome to Country” ceremony, expressing hope for an apology from the king regarding colonialism. “An apology would be beautiful,” she stated. “We have to acknowledge our past.”
While Charles acknowledged the ceremony in his speech, he did not offer an apology, reflecting a long-standing policy of the British government. However, he did express gratitude for the opportunity to pay respects to the traditional landowners.