Canberra. An Indigenous Australian senator confronted King Charles III during his visit to Australia's parliament on Monday, declaring that the land is not his. Senator Lidia Thorpe was escorted out of the parliamentary reception after shouting about the historical injustices faced by Indigenous peoples, including land theft and genocide.

"You committed genocide against our people. Give us what you stole from us — our bones, our skulls, our babies, our people. You destroyed our land. Give us a treaty. We want a treaty," Thorpe yelled, demanding acknowledgment for past atrocities and calling for a formal agreement, as no treaty has ever been established between British colonizers and Indigenous Australians.

As Thorpe was removed, she reiterated, "This is not your land. You are not my king," while King Charles spoke quietly with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and security officials intervened.

Thorpe is known for her outspoken activism. When she was sworn in as a senator in 2022, she was barred from referring to Queen Elizabeth II as "the colonizing Her Majesty." Her previous protests include lying in front of a police float during Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and being banned for life from a Melbourne strip club due to abusive behavior towards patrons.

Prime Minister Albanese, who advocates for Australia to become a republic, made a subtle reference to ongoing debates about the nation’s constitutional future in his speech welcoming the king. "You have shown great respect for Australians, even during times when we have debated our constitutional arrangements and relationship with the Crown," he said, adding that "nothing stands still."

Opposition leader Peter Dutton, who supports retaining the monarchy, quipped that many republic supporters were honored to attend the reception. "People have had haircuts, shoes shined, and suits pressed, and that’s just the republicans," he joked.

Meanwhile, the six state governments opted not to attend the reception, signaling their support for an Australian head of state, citing more pressing commitments.

In his speech, King Charles thanked Canberra Indigenous elder Auntie Violet Sheridan for the traditional welcome and recognized the significance of the Welcome to Country ceremony. "I deeply appreciated this morning's moving ceremony, which allows me to pay my respects to the traditional owners of these lands, the Ngunnawal people, and all First Nations peoples," he said.

Australians previously voted in a 1999 referendum to retain Queen Elizabeth II as head of state, a decision often attributed to disagreements over how a president would be chosen rather than a strong preference for the monarchy. Albanese has ruled out another referendum during his current term, but it remains a possibility if his party is re-elected next year.

Charles, who has been dealing with health issues, was limited in his itinerary during this trip. This visit marks his first as king and the first by a reigning British monarch since Queen Elizabeth II's visit in 2011. Earlier on Monday, Charles and Camilla laid wreaths at the Australian War Memorial and greeted well-wishers.

The couple is scheduled to travel to Samoa on Wednesday for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

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