In this episode of New Politics, we report on the recent royal visit to Australia and its politically charged aftermath. With mainstream media and the political establishment once again falling into sycophantic adoration for the monarchy, many critical voices were sidelined… until Senator Lidia Thorpe took a stand against King Charles, openly criticising the monarchy’s colonial legacy. Her fiery comments – labeling the king a genocidalist and demanding a Treaty – sparked outrage among conservative MPs and monarchists, but Thorpe’s speech has ignited a much-needed conversation about Australia’s colonial past and its potential future as a republic.
Thorpe’s bold stance has made waves both domestically and internationally. Some have called for her resignation, but her words resonate with many Australians, especially within the Indigenous community. We explore Thorpe’s speech, its historical accuracy, and why her unapologetic truth-telling should be compared to the iconic Redfern Speech of 1992.
We also look at Australia’s “lazy democracy,” where political change is slow, and governments, increasingly influenced by corporate interests, are disconnected from the electorate. We examine the long-standing resistance to reform, from Paul Keating’s push for a republic in the 1990s to today’s stagnation on constitutional change.
We address the growing appeal of community-backed independents, or teal candidates, whose electoral successes continue to threaten the Liberal Party’s grip on key heartland areas. Is Australia’s political landscape evolving, or are we stuck in an endless loop of conservative resistance? And how long is too long in politics? The ACT Labor Government will be in office for at least 27 years after winning the ACT election on the weekend, but if the Liberal Party isn’t good enough to present policies that are attractive to the electorate, it doesn’t deserve to be in office. It’s as simple as that.
Not my king