October 24th 2024.
Senator Lidia Thorpe has revised her previous statement regarding the oath of allegiance she recited during her swearing-in ceremony at parliament. It has been a tumultuous few days for Thorpe, who has garnered international attention and is facing calls for resignation from Opposition leader Peter Dutton due to her controversial protest against King Charles on Monday at Parliament House. Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie brought into question whether Thorpe's actions went against the oath she took, which was to be faithful and pledge allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II and her successors in accordance with the law.
In response, Thorpe stated that she did not recall swearing allegiance to the monarch, but rather to her "hairs" instead of her "heirs." She explained, "If you listen closely, it wasn't her 'heirs' that I was giving my allegiance to, but her 'hairs', and now that they are no longer here, I am not sure where I stand." The Parliament of Australia mandates that all members must take the oath before assuming their seat.
However, when asked if her admission meant she was ineligible to sit in Parliament, Thorpe backtracked on her statement. She told Sky News, "I simply read what was on the card. Please forgive me for not being proficient in English grammar like others. I misspoke. It is insulting for people like Dutton and other Senators of his party to question my legitimacy in this job."
Opposition leader in the Senate, Simon Birmingham, is currently seeking legal advice to determine the consequences of Thorpe's oath blunder. Ron Levy, an expert in constitutional law at the Australian National University, explains that the High Court may decide that Thorpe was never qualified to be in the Senate. If this is proven, she may face expulsion. However, Levy clarifies that she cannot be removed from Parliament for insulting the King, but there is a possibility of a court case challenging her non-oath and her revelation that she did not truly swear allegiance.
Thorpe remains steadfast in her decision not to resign, despite criticism from her colleagues in both Labor and the Opposition this week. She defends her actions and comments, stating, "I simply spoke what was written on the card. I will not back down, and I will continue to fight for the rights of my people. It is a shame that my colleagues cannot see the importance of this issue."
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