'She does not speak for me! Verbal outburs after King's speech draws condemnation

AN AUSTRALIAN senator who heckled King Charles during his visit to Canberra yesterday sparked further condemnation last night by posting a cartoon of him beheaded.

-  Emily Ferguson

Lidia Thorpe, who sits as an independent and has indigenous heritage, screamed abuse at Charles moments after he delivered a landmark speech at Parliament House.

She yelled "you are not my king" and accused him of "genocide" before security staff ejected her from the Great Hall.

But she continued her assault online by reposting a cartoon of Charles's head lying next to a crown on her Instagram account. It was created by Matt Chun, co-editor of antiimperialist publication The Sunday Paper.

Ms Thorpe's attack drew widespread criticism from Australian officials, including its prime minister and an Aboriginal leader, who declared: "She does not speak for me."

Charles, 75, had barely sat down before Thorpe, 51, walked down the aisle of the hall shouting: "You committed genocide against our people. Give us our land back. Give us what you stole from us. Our bones, our skulls, our babies, our people. You destroyed our land. Give us a treaty."

Wearing a long possum-skin coat, she tried to approach the stage where the King and Queen were sitting alongside Australian PM Anthony Albanese and other officials.

As security officers closed in she became more animated, shouting: "This is not your land, this is not your land, you are not my King, you are not our King." Then, as she was forced back into the foyer, she shouted: "F*** the colonies." Those gathered for the reception remained silent during the outburst - while the King turned to quietly speak to Mr Albanese.