<p>Australia's Independent senator Lidia Thorpe made the headlines after she heckled King Charles after his speech in the Australian parliament. She accused King Charles of “genocide” against their community and called for a treaty between First Nations people and the government.</p>

<p>Following this dramatic ordeal, the opposition leader Peter Dutton said that Thorpe should resign from parliament.</p>

<p>“I think there’s a very strong argument for somebody who doesn’t believe in the system but is willing to take a quarter of a million dollars a year from the system, to resign,” Dutton said on Channel Seven’s Sunrise program. “If you were really truly about your cause and not just about yourself, then I think that’s a decision that you would make.”</p>

<p>To this, Thorpe responded by saying, “I’m not looking to be re-elected – I’m looking to get justice for my people.”</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/you-are-not-our-king-king-charles-accused-of-genocide-by-australian-senator-769471">‘You are not our king’: King Charles accused of ‘genocide’ by Australian senator</a></strong></p>

<p>“I will be there for another three years, everybody. So, you know, get used to truth-telling,” she said on Radio National.</p>

<h2><strong>Who is Lidia Thorpe?</strong></h2>

<p>Lidia Thorpe was born in 1973&nbsp;in the Australian state of Victoria's&nbsp;Carlton.&nbsp;She has been an independent senator for Victoria since 2020 and advocates for the rights of the Indigenous community. She is also known for her strong protests against the monarchy.</p>

<p>Thorpe has been a part of protests and activism involving Indigenous people in Australia for many years, even before she entered politics. She is also a supporter of rights for the Black community.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-they-have-our-bones-and-skulls-australian-senator-defends-heckling-king-charles-769554">'They have our bones and skulls': Australian senator defends heckling King Charles</a></strong></p>

<p>She believes that a treaty between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians can help address historical wrongs. Through the treaty, the country can move towards becoming a republic state and help resolve “unfinished business”.</p>

<p>Thorpe is known for her high-profile protests. In 2020, she raised her fist, which is a symbol of “black power” salute during her swearing ceremony. She was wearing a traditional possum-skin cloak and held an Aboriginal message stick with 441 marks to symbolise the deaths of people of her community after a royal commission in 1991.</p>

<p>During her oath ceremony after her re-election in 2022, she referred to the late Queen Elizabeth II as "the colonising Her Majesty". For this, she was asked to repeat her oath with the correct official words.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Australia's Independent senator Lidia Thorpe made the headlines after she heckled King Charles after his speech in the Australian parliament. She accused King Charles of “genocide” against their community and called for a treaty between First Nations people and the government.

Australia's Independent senator Lidia Thorpe made the headlines after she heckled King Charles after his speech in the Australian parliament. She accused King Charles of “genocide” against their community and called for a treaty between First Nations people and the government. Following this dramatic ordeal, the opposition leader Peter Dutton said that Thorpe should resign from parliament. “I think there’s a very strong argument for somebody who doesn’t believe in the system but is willing to take a quarter of a million dollars a year from the system, to resign,” Dutton said on Channel Seven’s Sunrise program. “If you were really truly about your cause and not just about yourself, then I think that’s a decision that you would make.” To this, Thorpe responded by saying, “I’m not looking to be re-elected – I’m looking to get justice for my people.” Also read | ‘You are not our king’: King Charles accused of ‘genocide’ by Australian senator “I will be there for another three years, everybody. So, you know, get used to truth-telling,” she said on Radio National. Who is Lidia Thorpe? Lidia Thorpe was born in 1973 in the Australian state of Victoria's Carlton. She has been an independent senator for Victoria since 2020 and advocates for the rights of the Indigenous community. She is also known for her strong protests against the monarchy. Thorpe has been a part of protests and activism involving Indigenous people in Australia for many years, even before she entered politics. She is also a supporter of rights for the Black community. Also read | 'They have our bones and skulls': Australian senator defends heckling King Charles She believes that a treaty between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians can help address historical wrongs. Through the treaty, the country can move towards becoming a republic state and help resolve “unfinished business”. Thorpe is known for her high-profile protests. In 2020, she raised her fist, which is a symbol of “black power” salute during her swearing ceremony. She was wearing a traditional possum-skin cloak and held an Aboriginal message stick with 441 marks to symbolise the deaths of people of her community after a royal commission in 1991. During her oath ceremony after her re-election in 2022, she referred to the late Queen Elizabeth II as "the colonising Her Majesty". For this, she was asked to repeat her oath with the correct official words. (With inputs from agencies)

Who is Lidia Thorpe, Australian senator who heckled King Charles?

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<p>Australians will vote in a referendum on 14 October 2023 to constitutionally recognise its Indigenous people by establishing a representative body responsible for providing non-binding advice to the parliament.</p>

<p>Indigenous people of Australia consist of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. They are 3.2 per cent of Australia's total population. More than 800,000 Indigenous people have inhabited the land for 60,000 years. They comprise various groups who have their histories, cultures and languages.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After the British colonisation began in 1788, Australia's Indigenous population started plunging. The British colonisers took their land, exposed them to new diseases, pushed them to work in slave-like conditions, and even killed many. Since then, the marginalisation of Australia's First Nations people has continued. But there have been some efforts to address this issue more recently.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/russia-uses-car-tyres-to-cover-military-aircraft-to-deter-ukrainian-drone-attacks-report-632902" target="_blank">Russia uses car tyres to cover military aircraft to deter Ukrainian drone attacks: Report&nbsp;&nbsp;</a></p>

<p>More than 60 years after the nations' establishment in 1901, Australia included the Indigenous people in census figures in 1967, following a referendum to amend the constitution.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In 2017, around 250 First Nations representatives gathered at the holy monolith landmark of Uluru in central Australia. They created the 'Uluru Statement from the Heart', calling for a First Nations Voice enshrined in the constitution. However, at that time, the conservative government rejected the call.&nbsp;</p>

<p>When Anthony Albanese became prime minister in 2022, he promised to hold a referendum to include an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice in the parliament, giving Australians a say. According to Reuters, Albanese has staked much of his political capital on the referendum by making it one of the prime issues.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The supportive forces comprise the left-wing Greens party, independent legislators, welfare groups, and national and ethno-religious groups.</p>

<p>However, some people oppose it on both flanks of the political ridge. Lidia Thorpe, an independent Indigenous senator, is one of them. She left the Green party over concerns about the Voice proposal, as she wants a treaty between the government and Indigenous people first, parallel to what New Zealand and Canada have.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While New Zealand's Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 promises to protect Maori culture, Canada recognises the rights of its Indigenous people under the Constitution Act 1982.</p>

<p>Those against the proposal are the conservative Liberal Party and the rural-based National Party. They have appealed to Australians to vote "No" in the referendum.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A campaign called "Recognise a Better Way" suggests creating an all-party parliamentary committee to address the concerns of native titleholders instead of having a referendum on establishing a Voice to Parliament.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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Australians will vote in a referendum on 14 October 2023 to constitutionally recognise its Indigenous people by establishing a representative body responsible for providing non-binding advice to the parliament.

Australians will vote in a referendum on 14 October 2023 to constitutionally recognise its Indigenous people by establishing a representative body responsible for providing non-binding advice to the parliament. Indigenous people of Australia consist of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. They are 3.2 per cent of Australia's total population. More than 800,000 Indigenous people have inhabited the land for 60,000 years. They comprise various groups who have their histories, cultures and languages. After the British colonisation began in 1788, Australia's Indigenous population started plunging. The British colonisers took their land, exposed them to new diseases, pushed them to work in slave-like conditions, and even killed many. Since then, the marginalisation of Australia's First Nations people has continued. But there have been some efforts to address this issue more recently. ALSO READ | Russia uses car tyres to cover military aircraft to deter Ukrainian drone attacks: Report More than 60 years after the nations' establishment in 1901, Australia included the Indigenous people in census figures in 1967, following a referendum to amend the constitution. In 2017, around 250 First Nations representatives gathered at the holy monolith landmark of Uluru in central Australia. They created the 'Uluru Statement from the Heart', calling for a First Nations Voice enshrined in the constitution. However, at that time, the conservative government rejected the call. When Anthony Albanese became prime minister in 2022, he promised to hold a referendum to include an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice in the parliament, giving Australians a say. According to Reuters, Albanese has staked much of his political capital on the referendum by making it one of the prime issues. The supportive forces comprise the left-wing Greens party, independent legislators, welfare groups, and national and ethno-religious groups. However, some people oppose it on both flanks of the political ridge. Lidia Thorpe, an independent Indigenous senator, is one of them. She left the Green party over concerns about the Voice proposal, as she wants a treaty between the government and Indigenous people first, parallel to what New Zealand and Canada have. While New Zealand's Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 promises to protect Maori culture, Canada recognises the rights of its Indigenous people under the Constitution Act 1982. Those against the proposal are the conservative Liberal Party and the rural-based National Party. They have appealed to Australians to vote "No" in the referendum. A campaign called "Recognise a Better Way" suggests creating an all-party parliamentary committee to address the concerns of native titleholders instead of having a referendum on establishing a Voice to Parliament. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

What is Australia's Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum? Here's all you need to know about the proposal

<p>A millionaire Canadian couple had chartered a private plane to an island to skip coronavirus vaccine queue. The vaccine they were injected was meant for elderly indigenous people. Now they have been fined C$2,300, which is being seen as a lesser punishment.</p>

<p>The offenders were former casino executive Rodney Baker and his wife, the actor Ekaterina Baker.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/covid-19-just-34-for-two-doses-made-in-india-biological-e-vaccine-could-be-90-effective-392081">$3.4 for 2 doses: India-made Covid jab from Biological E may be 90% effective</a></strong></p>

<p>The famous couple had chartered a bush plane to the tiny island called Beaver Creek, where they manipulated the locals into giving them a vaccine shot on January 21 that was meant for the elderly population of the indigenous community.</p>

<p>They were apprehended while&nbsp;trying to board a flight out of the Yukon Territory.</p>

<p>While many thought they would be jailed for the offence, the couple pleaded guilty to breaking public health rules and were, therefore, fined.</p>

<p><a href="UK opens vaccines for 21-22 year olds, fearing rise of Delta variant"><strong>WATCH |</strong></a></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/global-leaders-pledge-to-share-covid-19-vaccine-doses-internationally-392088/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>However, the fact that the millionaire couple was not jailed has angered many people across the globe.</p>

<p>What saved the couple from being jailed were their guilty plea and their two-time donation of C$5,000,&nbsp;made twice to the Covax scheme.</p>


A millionaire Canadian couple had chartered a private plane to an island to skip coronavirus vaccine queue. The vaccine they were injected was meant for elderly indigenous people.

A millionaire Canadian couple had chartered a private plane to an island to skip coronavirus vaccine queue. The vaccine they were injected was meant for elderly indigenous people. Now they have been fined C$2,300, which is being seen as a lesser punishment. The offenders were former casino executive Rodney Baker and his wife, the actor Ekaterina Baker. Also read | $3.4 for 2 doses: India-made Covid jab from Biological E may be 90% effective The famous couple had chartered a bush plane to the tiny island called Beaver Creek, where they manipulated the locals into giving them a vaccine shot on January 21 that was meant for the elderly population of the indigenous community. They were apprehended while trying to board a flight out of the Yukon Territory. While many thought they would be jailed for the offence, the couple pleaded guilty to breaking public health rules and were, therefore, fined. WATCH | However, the fact that the millionaire couple was not jailed has angered many people across the globe. What saved the couple from being jailed were their guilty plea and their two-time donation of C$5,000, made twice to the Covax scheme.

Millionaire couple who manipulated vaccine queue fined C$2,300

<p>Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau kicked off celebrations on Saturday to mark the country&#39;s 150th birthday amid heavy security as many citizens braved incessant rains and long delays to reach the main site in the nation&#39;s capital, Reuters reports.</p>

<p>About 500,000 people were expected to be in Ottawa for the long-anticipated&nbsp;Canada&nbsp;Day festivities, which features a large outdoor celebration in front of the national Parliament, complete with acrobats, fireworks and musicians, including singer Bono and other members of Irish rock band U2.</p>

<p>Trudeau, accompanied by Britain&#39;s Prince Charles, shook hands with some of the thousands of revelers who converged on&nbsp;Canada&#39;s capital Ottawa for the festivities.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We are truly blessed to live in this great country. ???? Nous avons beaucoup de chance de vivre dans un pays aussi extraordinaire. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canada150?src=hash">#Canada150</a> <a href="https://t.co/RqHlZak6lt">pic.twitter.com/RqHlZak6lt</a></p>
&mdash; Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau/status/881225949496446979">July 1, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>&quot;Canada&nbsp;is a country made strong not in spite of our differences but because of them,&quot; Trudeau told the gathering. &quot;We don&#39;t aspire to be a melting pot &ndash; indeed, we know true strength and resilience flows through Canadian diversity.&quot;</p>

<p>The Toronto Blue Jays, Major League Baseball&#39;s only team based in Canada, celebrated the occassion.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">????&nbsp;A beautiful celebration for a beautiful country. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canada150?src=hash">#Canada150</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZDZjUEJtjG">pic.twitter.com/ZDZjUEJtjG</a></p>
&mdash; Blue Jays (@BlueJays) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/881201848220344320">July 1, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Some cities are celebrating in more unusual ways. Toronto,&nbsp;Canada&#39;s largest city, will have a giant rubber duck floating in its harbour.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Spotted! The World&#39;s Largest Rubber Duck is preparing to make her grand entrance to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TOwaterfront?src=hash">#TOwaterfront</a> ??<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Toronto?src=hash">#Toronto</a> <a href="https://t.co/RvNwYbhh2k">pic.twitter.com/RvNwYbhh2k</a></p>
&mdash; Redpath WaterFest (@TOwaterfest) <a href="https://twitter.com/TOwaterfest/status/880788327150039040">June 30, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Toronto had the standard marches, with the country&#39;s flags hanging from ice hockey sticks.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>People participate in the East York Toronto Canada Day parade, as the country marks its 150th anniversary with &quot;Canada 150&quot; celebrations, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada July 1, 2017. (Reuters)</p>
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<p>In Western Canada, Calgary had&nbsp;a &quot;living flag&quot; composed of people wearing red and white.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Living flag takes over Winnipeg&rsquo;s Portage and Main <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canada150?src=hash">#Canada150</a><a href="https://t.co/JzK66w3oNf">https://t.co/JzK66w3oNf</a> <a href="https://t.co/gDr4B42TvA">pic.twitter.com/gDr4B42TvA</a></p>
&mdash; Anonymous ?? (@YourAnonCentral) <a href="https://twitter.com/YourAnonCentral/status/881221498987356160">July 1, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Security was already ramped up in the days ahead of the celebration and party-goers must contend with road closures and concrete barriers across entrances into Parliament Hill, located in downtown Ottawa.</p>

<p>Heavy downpours prompted Ottawa firefighters to pump water off the grounds on Parliament Hill and the Ottawa Fire Service urged citizens to follow safety instructions. National and local police were also out in force, with security top of mind for many Canadians in the wake of fatal attacks in London, Paris and Germany.</p>

<p>The nationwide party comes as&nbsp;Canada&nbsp;is enjoying an unusual amount of interest from the rest of the world, largely due to the election of charismatic and selfie-prone leader Trudeau.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Controversy: Backlash, not celebration</p>

<p>Still, in the runup to the celebrations, some controversy was stirred at home, particularly among First Nations who noted&nbsp;Canada&#39;s history of mistreatment of indigenous people. Activists erected a teepee on <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/days-before-canadas-150th-anniversary-police-arrest-release-9-people-erecting-indigenous-ceremonial-teepee-on-parliament-hill-17397" target="_blank">Parliament Hill </a>on Thursday in protest.</p>

<p>&quot;As a society, we must acknowledge and apologize for past wrongs, and chart a path forward for the next 150 years,&quot; Trudeau said in a statement ahead of the official kickoff.</p>

<p>Indigenous rights group Idle No More has called for a national day of action on Saturday, telling supporters to hold rallies and take to social media.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">You can&#39;t have a celebration of Canada without Duncan Campbell Scott. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canada150?src=hash">#Canada150</a> <a href="https://t.co/G0YmwUTrwn">pic.twitter.com/G0YmwUTrwn</a></p>
&mdash; Terrill Tailfeathers (@Terrilltf) <a href="https://twitter.com/Terrilltf/status/881316668596670464">July 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Events and installations celebrating the sesquicentennial milestone have already been held across the country this year, with the total cost to the federal government reported to be half a billion dollars.</p>

<p>Not everybody thought this was a sensible expenditure.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The amount of $$ being invested into <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canada150?src=hash">#Canada150</a> REALLY bothers me. We could&#39;ve done so much with it like bettering the lives of our children</p>
&mdash; Chelsea Jane Edwards (@chelseajaneed) <a href="https://twitter.com/chelseajaneed/status/881298175545536514">July 1, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<p>Along with fireworks, free museums and outdoor concerts nationwide on Saturday, more than 50 special ceremonies to swear in new citizens will be held across the country.</p>

<p>Twitter users were sharing their favorite Canadian songs and food, along with photos of the preparations under the hashtag&nbsp;Canada150.</p>

<p>Prince Charles and his wife Camilla arrived in&nbsp;Canada&nbsp;for an official visit on Thursday. The royals began a three-day tour of&nbsp;Canada&nbsp;with a trip to the northern territory of Nunavut, home to a large number of First Nations and Inuit people.</p>

<p>The bash in Ottawa will culminate with a musical fireworks show that is billed as largest-ever such display for&nbsp;Canada&nbsp;Day. It will last for 20 minutes and 17 seconds to commemorate 2017.</p>

<p>(With inputs from agencies)</p>


But some controversy was stirred up at home, as First Nations noted?Canada's history of mistreatment of Indigenous people

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau kicked off celebrations on Saturday to mark the country's 150th birthday amid heavy security as many citizens braved incessant rains and long delays to reach the main site in the nation's capital, Reuters reports. About 500,000 people were expected to be in Ottawa for the long-anticipated Canada Day festivities, which features a large outdoor celebration in front of the national Parliament, complete with acrobats, fireworks and musicians, including singer Bono and other members of Irish rock band U2. Trudeau, accompanied by Britain's Prince Charles, shook hands with some of the thousands of revelers who converged on Canada's capital Ottawa for the festivities. We are truly blessed to live in this great country. ???? Nous avons beaucoup de chance de vivre dans un pays aussi extraordinaire. #Canada150 pic.twitter.com/RqHlZak6lt — Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) July 1, 2017 × "Canada is a country made strong not in spite of our differences but because of them," Trudeau told the gathering. "We don't aspire to be a melting pot – indeed, we know true strength and resilience flows through Canadian diversity." The Toronto Blue Jays, Major League Baseball's only team based in Canada, celebrated the occassion. ???? A beautiful celebration for a beautiful country. #Canada150 pic.twitter.com/ZDZjUEJtjG — Blue Jays (@BlueJays) July 1, 2017 × Some cities are celebrating in more unusual ways. Toronto, Canada's largest city, will have a giant rubber duck floating in its harbour. Spotted! The World's Largest Rubber Duck is preparing to make her grand entrance to #TOwaterfront ??#Toronto pic.twitter.com/RvNwYbhh2k — Redpath WaterFest (@TOwaterfest) June 30, 2017 × Toronto had the standard marches, with the country's flags hanging from ice hockey sticks. People participate in the East York Toronto Canada Day parade, as the country marks its 150th anniversary with "Canada 150" celebrations, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada July 1, 2017. (Reuters) × In Western Canada, Calgary had a "living flag" composed of people wearing red and white. Living flag takes over Winnipeg’s Portage and Main #Canada150https://t.co/JzK66w3oNf pic.twitter.com/gDr4B42TvA — Anonymous ?? (@YourAnonCentral) July 1, 2017 × Security was already ramped up in the days ahead of the celebration and party-goers must contend with road closures and concrete barriers across entrances into Parliament Hill, located in downtown Ottawa. Heavy downpours prompted Ottawa firefighters to pump water off the grounds on Parliament Hill and the Ottawa Fire Service urged citizens to follow safety instructions. National and local police were also out in force, with security top of mind for many Canadians in the wake of fatal attacks in London, Paris and Germany. The nationwide party comes as Canada is enjoying an unusual amount of interest from the rest of the world, largely due to the election of charismatic and selfie-prone leader Trudeau. Controversy: Backlash, not celebration Still, in the runup to the celebrations, some controversy was stirred at home, particularly among First Nations who noted Canada's history of mistreatment of indigenous people. Activists erected a teepee on Parliament Hill on Thursday in protest. "As a society, we must acknowledge and apologize for past wrongs, and chart a path forward for the next 150 years," Trudeau said in a statement ahead of the official kickoff. Indigenous rights group Idle No More has called for a national day of action on Saturday, telling supporters to hold rallies and take to social media. You can't have a celebration of Canada without Duncan Campbell Scott. #Canada150 pic.twitter.com/G0YmwUTrwn — Terrill Tailfeathers (@Terrilltf) July 2, 2017 × Events and installations celebrating the sesquicentennial milestone have already been held across the country this year, with the total cost to the federal government reported to be half a billion dollars. Not everybody thought this was a sensible expenditure. The amount of $$ being invested into #Canada150 REALLY bothers me. We could've done so much with it like bettering the lives of our children — Chelsea Jane Edwards (@chelseajaneed) July 1, 2017 × Along with fireworks, free museums and outdoor concerts nationwide on Saturday, more than 50 special ceremonies to swear in new citizens will be held across the country. Twitter users were sharing their favorite Canadian songs and food, along with photos of the preparations under the hashtag Canada150. Prince Charles and his wife Camilla arrived in Canada for an official visit on Thursday. The royals began a three-day tour of Canada with a trip to the northern territory of Nunavut, home to a large number of First Nations and Inuit people. The bash in Ottawa will culminate with a musical fireworks show that is billed as largest-ever such display for Canada Day. It will last for 20 minutes and 17 seconds to commemorate 2017. (With inputs from agencies)

Canada Day: Country's 150th birthday celebrations feature celebrities, crowds, and a giant rubber duck

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Who is Lidia Thorpe, Australian senator who heckled King Charles?

What is Australia's Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum? Here's all you need to know about the proposal

Millionaire couple who manipulated vaccine queue fined C$2,300

Canada Day: Country's 150th birthday celebrations feature celebrities, crowds, and a giant rubber duck