Senator Lidia Thorpe has hit back after it has been revealed Labor and the Coalition are likely to team up to pass a censure motion this morning against her, following her protest of King Charles III last month.
Thorpe says with this motion, the major parties are giving her a renewed opportunity to call out injustice and call for Treaty.
Quotes attributable to Lidia Thorpe, Gunnai, Gunditjmara and Djab Wurrung independent Victorian Senator:
"This motion shows where the major parties priorities lie. They don’t stand with First Peoples in this country. They stand against justice for our people, preferring instead to defend a foreign king, rather than listen to the truth.
"They want me to kneel, to be silent, to disappear, but let me be clear: I am a sovereign Gunai, Gunditjmara, and Djab Wurrung woman. My loyalty lies with my people, with justice, not with a government or a crown that has systematically worked to erase us.
"My allegiance is to the True Sovereigns of this country. Not some King who thinks he’s sovereign.
"In no way do I regret protesting the King. I would do it again. It is time this country reckons with its history, and puts a stop to the continuing Genocide on First Peoples.
"First Peoples across this earth are rising, rejecting the crowns and chains of colonial oppression and fighting back with unshakable courage.
"From Hana-Rawhiti tearing up New Zealand’s dishonest interpretation of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill, the Kanak people resisting French state and settler violence, Samoan people challenging King Charles III during his recent visit, demanding accountability for colonial wrongs.
"Across the world, we see a fierce, united front declaring that the era of silence is over, truth-telling is here and the power of First People's solidarity will not be denied.
"The colonial state has been built on the continuing Genocide on First Peoples. I was silenced and removed from the parliamentary reception for pointing out that the Crown stole from First Peoples, and now the major parties want to try again to silence me and shut me down.
"I will not be silent. The truth is, this colony is built on stolen land, stolen wealth and stolen lives. The British Crown committed heinous crimes against the First Peoples of this country. These crimes include war crimes, crimes against humanity and failure to prevent genocide. The Crown must be held accountable for these crimes.
"And this government must be held accountable for ongoing injustice against First Peoples in this country. Since my protest to the king in parliament, there have been three First Nations people die in custody that we know about. In just the last 11 months there have been 22 black deaths in custody.
"We’ve also learnt that 66 children have died in the out of home care system in Victoria in the last four years, and 5400 cases of abuse have been reported, and these numbers are trending upwards. NT and Queensland are pushing through new laws to jail young children. But this government remains silent on these real issues.
"Today I am reiterating my calls for justice, an end to the ongoing incarceration, kidnapping and genocide of First Peoples.
"It’s time for Treaty so we can live in peace and come together as a nation."