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October 21, 2024
JACQUI FELGATE: If you're just tuning in, it's about Senator Lidia Thorpe, who today interrupted King Charles' visits to Parliament House. She called out during proceedings in the Great Hall as he finished his speech, telling him to give us our land back and that he is not her king. So whether you believe in the monarchy or not, I think this is a national embarrassment, isn't it, really? These are the pictures that are now going to go around the world. And at the very least, I think when we're talking about the Great Hall of our national parliament, look I felt really uncomfortable watching it. On the line now is Senator James Paterson, the shadow Minister for Home Affairs. Senator, I'd like to get your view. Should we be embarrassed?
JAMES PATERSON: I think it was embarrassing, but it really reflects only on Senator Lidia Thorpe and not on our country or our parliament. And frankly it also reflects on the Greens who put her there in the first place. She's since quit the Greens, but they have been choosing people like her who are increasingly extreme, putting them in our parliament and they do act in ways that are incredibly disrespectful.
FELGATE: What has been the reaction amongst Parliamentarians following this today?
PATERSON: Every Parliamentarian that I've spoken to, Labor or Liberal, Republican or Monarchist, was appalled by Senator Thorpe's behaviour. She's entitled to her views about the monarchy and the Australian system of government. But she's a Senator. She has lots of platforms she can share those views on. She can come on a radio program like yours, she can go on television, she can write an article for a newspaper, she can tweet all she likes. She didn't need to disrespect the King on his visit. And frankly, just after he had actually spoken very movingly and quite warmly about his relationship with Indigenous Australians and the ongoing work we all have to do on reconciliation.
FELGATE: What did he say?
PATERSON: Well, he spoke about his long journey in Australia dating back to 1966, on the relationships he'd formed with Indigenous elders during that time, on what he'd learnt from them and spoke in recognition of the fact that there is still more work to do to address Indigenous disadvantage. I thought it was unprompted, it was very warm, it was very generous, it was quite moving and so for her to respond in kind like that I think is disrespectful to many Australians.
FELGATE: And do you think it actually takes away support for her cause as well?
PATERSON: I have no doubt that it does. Australians don't like this kind of disrespectful behaviour. Let's remember that the King is not a politician. We have had protests for other visiting politicians and heads of states in the past. George Bush, most famously or even more recently, the President of the Philippines was protested. Now that is still rude, but they are at least politicians, and they are more accustomed to the democracies in their own countries and how vibrant that can be. The King is not a politician. He's not elected. He sits apart from that and he should be a unifying figure in our system of government.
FELGATE: And is there any penalty for this? Obviously, it's not actually within the Parliament chamber itself, but is there any penalty for this type of behaviour?
PATERSON: No, look, there isn't any legislative means by which you can punish a senator for behaviour like that. Really, only a conviction of a serious offence with a longer jail term of more than one year can remove you from the Senate. But short of that there's really nothing available for the Senate to do. And really it's just on the public and the people of Victoria to form their own judgement about Lidia Thorpe's conduct at the next election.
FELGATE: What has been the view in Canberra of the visit of King Charles and Queen Camilla?
PATERSON: Look, I think it's been actually really very warmly received across the spectrum. Certainly there were people there today that want to see a change of system in Australia and a move to Republic. And there are others who support the constitutional monarchy and the status quo. But everyone, I think, recognises the deep warmth and affection that the King has for Australia. He's been here 17 times over his lifetime. That is an extraordinary amount for someone in a position like his. He came here as a young boy, he has very fond memories of Australia and you can see that in the way he speaks. So I think he is a very welcome guest.
FELGATE: Senator James Paterson is the Shadow Minister for Home Affairs. Appreciate your time today, Senator.
PATERSON: Thanks Jacqui.
ENDS
