5 days Ago By Dan Jervis-Bardy
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. “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.” Emma Kirk More to come.
