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Senate censures Lidia Thorpe after expletive-laden tirade at King Charles

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Dan Jervis-BardyThe West Australian
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Senator Lidia Thorpe makes her case. Image: Victoria Jones (AP/Alamy).
Camera IconSenator Lidia Thorpe makes her case. Image: Victoria Jones (AP/Alamy). Credit: Victoria Jones/PA

The Senate has censured Lidia Thorpe over her expletive-laden tirade against King Charles during his visit to Canberra.

The major parties also trying to formally rebuke United Australia Party senator Ralph Babet for “inflammatory use of hate speech” online.

In a statement to the upper house, Leader of the Government in the Senate Penny Wong said she was moving the censure motions reluctantly because Senator Thorpe and Senator Babet behaved as they did because they wanted the attention.

“Engaging in actions, stunts designed to create storms on social media, but offering nothing of substance to improve anyone’s life,” Senator Wong said.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 21: Senator Lidia Thorpe disrupts proceedings as King Charles III and Queen Camilla attend a Parliamentary reception hosted by Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese and Jodie Haydon on October 21, 2024 in Canberra, Australia. The King's visit to Australia is his first as monarch, and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa will be his first as head of the Commonwealth. (Photo by Lukas Coch-Pool/Getty Images)
Camera IconSenator Lidia Thorpe disrupts proceedings as King Charles III and Queen Camilla attend a Parliamentary reception. Credit: Pool/Getty Images

“These are actions that seek to incite outrage and grievance, actually to boost their own profiles.”

The Senate voted 46:12 to censure Senator Thorpe.

In a statement ahead of the censure vote, Senator Thorpe said she would not be silenced.

“In no way do I regret protesting the King. I would do it again,” she said.

“It is time this country reckons with its history, and puts a stop to the continuing Genocide on First Peoples.”

More to come

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