King Charles III of Great Britain made his first visit to Australia, where Indigenous Senator Lidia Thorpe confronted him during a reception in Parliament. Thorpe expressed that Australia was not her land and accused British colonizers of genocide against Indigenous peoples. Despite this situation, the king thanked the Ngunnawal peoples for their traditional welcome during his speech.
Lidia Thorpe's protests are not unfamiliar, as she is known for her activism and attention-grabbing actions. The debate over the republic in Australia resurfaced before the royal visit, and although Australians voted against becoming a republic in 1999, the topic remains relevant on the country's political agenda.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese advocated for an Australian head of state and dismissed holding a new referendum during his current term. Meanwhile, some politicians, like Peter Dutton, support maintaining the Australian monarchy. Although there was controversy surrounding the royal visit, several protocol meetings were scheduled during Charles III's stay in Australia.
The reception in Parliament was attended by state leaders, although six of them declined to attend, highlighting political divisions over Australia's relationship with the United Kingdom. Despite this, King Charles III expressed gratitude for the welcome ceremony and reaffirmed his respect for the Indigenous peoples of the region.
