Bob Katter, the long-serving MP for the northern Queensland seat of Kennedy, has refused to swear allegiance to King Charles, his heirs and successors during the opening of parliament.

When asked if he would swear allegiance, Katter responded: “No, I swear allegiance to the Australian people.”

The small protest did not disrupt proceedings, as it did when Victorian senator Lidia Thorpe gave the oath in 2022.

Members are asked to swear faith and allegiance to King Charles III. They are expected to respond “I do”.

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[–] eureka@aussie.zone 63 points 4 months ago (1 children)

One of the few positions where I can agree with them. Anyone who claims to represent me in government shouldn't be swearing allegiance of a monarch.

The small protest did not disrupt proceedings, as it did when Victorian senator Lidia Thorpe gave the oath in 2022.

I'm glad the author added this line.

[–] princessnorah@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I'm glad the author added this line.

I can't tell, are you being sarcastic?

[–] eureka@aussie.zone 23 points 4 months ago

I'm being sincere, they compared it to a similar event to contrast the reaction.

[–] Pappabosley@lemmy.world 50 points 4 months ago (5 children)

Why was it so much of an issue for Lidia Thorpe? Hmmmm

[–] Walk_blesseD@piefed.blahaj.zone 38 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Racism. The answer is racism.

[–] Pappabosley@lemmy.world 27 points 4 months ago (3 children)

Whoa, don't jump to conclusions, it could just be good old fashioned sexism, hard to tell sometimes

[–] maniacalmanicmania@aussie.zone 10 points 4 months ago

Oh it was defo both if not more.

[–] Walk_blesseD@piefed.blahaj.zone 5 points 4 months ago

Touché

[–] Taleya@aussie.zone 4 points 4 months ago

Misogynoir

[–] useyourmainfinger@lemmy.world 15 points 4 months ago

Complete mystery, I guess we'll never know.

[–] maniacalmanicmania@aussie.zone 15 points 4 months ago

Hmm 🤔

[+] Eyekaytee@aussie.zone 13 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (3 children)

[deleted]

[–] Pappabosley@lemmy.world 9 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Good thing katter has a clean slate and definitely never did anything crazy or attention seeking.

[–] Eyekaytee@aussie.zone 3 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (2 children)

I think you're forgetting how uniquely annoying she was being at the time, she quit the greens because she was voting no for the voice and relationship with biker gang ex-leader, never ending drama

[–] Pappabosley@lemmy.world 1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Oh, did she also try to weaken gun laws so her son-in-law could import automatic shotguns? How about suggesting that we conscript 13 year old and give them all guns? Maybe run a campaign ad that depicted her shooting rival politicians dead? I'm not a fan of Lidia Thorpe, but I think you're missing the point that the media routinely portrays Katters "antics" as that kooky old guy, but actively demonises Thorpe. They're both bloody annoying and crazy, there's just a narrative being pushed.

[–] Eyekaytee@aussie.zone 2 points 4 months ago

he’s been in parliament for like 50 years, she’d been in for like 1

if he acted like she did he also would have been blasted, same as bananaby joyce when he was the class nutter for a bit, same as pauline hanson when she was the class nutter for a while

you can posit some conspiracy theory or from my experience crazy politicians who do a lot of crazy things in a short time period will draw attention (just like how we’re talking about katter now)

[–] maniacalmanicmania@aussie.zone 1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

uniquely annoying she was being at the time

Do you hear yourself?

never ending drama

I guess not.

[–] Eyekaytee@aussie.zone 1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

what’s up?

[–] maniacalmanicmania@aussie.zone 1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Not much. It's a bit cold.

[–] Eyekaytee@aussie.zone 1 points 4 months ago

🥶 same! saw we were getting fog at the airport last night: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTO8n0Y6wgk&t=15027s

[–] maniacalmanicmania@aussie.zone 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

iirc she was acting like a massive twat during the whole thing, then she twated about with the King

https://youtu.be/18DCUS_ZNi4?t=28

What a legend.

and then she said proudly that she said the oath wrong (she swore an oath to the queens hairs not heirs or something) and then it became an issue

Oh no a First Nations woman is protesting incorrectly. Call the protest police before somebody gets upset. Oh, oops too late.

all in all, she was an attention seeking twat and got what she wanted...

You know you come off sounding like a misogynist twat when you use the language of misogynist twats right?

[–] Tau@aussie.zone 4 points 4 months ago (1 children)

You know you come off sounding like a misogynist twat when you use the language of misogynist twats right?

Could be worse, could come off sounding like Lidia Thorpe by thinking everything is racism and/or sexism.

[–] maniacalmanicmania@aussie.zone 0 points 4 months ago

I don't mind knowing lots of shit is racist and sexist instead of hating on a First Nations woman all the time.

[–] Walk_blesseD@piefed.blahaj.zone -1 points 4 months ago

"Waow" based based based based

[–] GiovanniBruzzolini@aussie.zone 5 points 4 months ago

Its the reason why he disapproves of Charles being king.

Conservatives have an incredibly stupid reason for their disapproval of Charles - it because they don't want Camilla, a divorced woman, to be queen.
Side note, these same idiots conveniently ignore the fact that Charles is also divorced.

[–] AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world 13 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Disgraceful! Send this criminal to Australia!

Um.wait...

[–] SomethingBurger@jlai.lu 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Send him to Bradford!

[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago

Now that would be a inhuman punishment, wouldn't it? Show mercy!

[–] Nath@aussie.zone 2 points 4 months ago (3 children)

It might be time for another referendum on this topic. However, given the chaos that has come out of the USA in the hands of a rogue government, I'd be hesitant to completely remove the role the monarchy plays in our government. We need that check on power and I don't know what you'd replace it with.

[–] vala@lemmy.world 12 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Monarchists are so weird lmao

[–] WoodScientist@sh.itjust.works 0 points 4 months ago

I think the US should become militantly anti-monarchist. We should make it a capital offense for any monarch, or anyone with an inherited title of nobility, to set foot on US soil. Banish the rats from the land.

[–] Nath@aussie.zone 0 points 4 months ago (2 children)

I don't call myself a monarchist. But I am in favour of someone holding the power to send us to an election if we get a non-functional government. Whoever that is needs to be totally independent of our day-to-day politics and essentially un-bribable.

Right now, that's the king in England. I'm not against disconnecting from that - but like I said, I don't know where else you'll find someone who is outside daily politics in Australia and can't be bribed to act against our interests. If you have a name, I'm all ears (so is the king! 😆).

If you are proposing we just do away with that, then I'd love to know how you'd deal with an Australian Trump administration. Because 3-4 years of that doesn't sound fun.

[–] maniacalmanicmania@aussie.zone 3 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Would there be an issue with that duty falling to the governor-general, perhaps making the position electable to someone who has no party affiliation? Just thinking off the top of my head. Totally expect everyone to point out all the flaws in this idea.

[–] Gorgritch_umie_killa@aussie.zone 3 points 4 months ago

Its not the King in England, its the GG here. She has the real power, the King only has a power to advise the Governor General and to a degree the Prime Minister.

Its important Australians, at least, realise that we very much are our own nation, subject to the same coercions and bribes that befall any middling nation such as ours, but at the end of the day we already have and use the power to shape our destiny.

[–] mojofrododojo@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago

We need that check on power and I don’t know what you’d replace it with.

it's elected idiots desire to become monarchy which leads to the problem. throw down your monarchy, chop off some heads, this desire to emulate them will evaporate overnight.

[–] BrainInABox@lemmy.ml 1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

The British monarchy is more likely to push Australia towards Trump style politics than away

[–] Nath@aussie.zone 0 points 4 months ago

What makes you come to this conclusion? Given that Australia has been connected to the British crown since colonial days - before federation, and we haven't gone down that path, I'm wondering what makes you think we will? The UK has had its attachment for half a millennia, they also seem to be doing ok.

In fact, I'll go one further and give a counter-example: India detached from the monarchy nearly 80 years ago and I think they've gone way further down that path. Presidents Modi and Trump have a fair amount in common.

So, I think I disagree with you on this point. At least, I can't see what you're getting at.

[–] obsolete@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

He has always been irrelevant in Australia.

[–] maniacalmanicmania@aussie.zone 1 points 4 months ago

Not totally irrelevant.

[–] makingStuffForFun@lemmy.ml 1 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

I'd hate to do it. However, the king is the legal head of state. Still.

Edit. Love being downvoted for basic facts. Did I just step back in time, into reddit?

[–] maniacalmanicmania@aussie.zone 1 points 4 months ago

It's weird because what you stated is like what 99% of people would do if they got elected. Even though I disagree with you it's just an odd thing to downvote someone over.