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Bob Katter refuses to swear oath to King Charles

smh.com.au

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”.

eureka - 5mon

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.

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Norah (pup/it/she) - 5mon

I'm glad the author added this line.

I can't tell, are you being sarcastic?

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eureka - 5mon

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

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Pappabosley @lemmy.world - 5mon

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

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Walk_blesseD - 5mon

Racism. The answer is racism.

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Pappabosley @lemmy.world - 5mon

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

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maniacalmanicmania - 5mon

Oh it was defo both if not more.

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Walk_blesseD - 5mon

Touché

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Taleya - 5mon

Misogynoir

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maniacalmanicmania - 5mon

Hmm 🤔

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useyourmainfinger @lemmy.world - 5mon

Complete mystery, I guess we'll never know.

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John Bruzzolini - 5mon

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.

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AnUnusualRelic @lemmy.world - 5mon

Disgraceful! Send this criminal to Australia!

Um.wait...

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Something Burger 🍔 - 5mon

Send him to Bradford!

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Treczoks @lemmy.world - 5mon

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

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Nath - 5mon

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.

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vala @lemmy.world - 5mon

Monarchists are so weird lmao

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Nath - 5mon

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.

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Gorgritch_Umie_Killa - 5mon

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.

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maniacalmanicmania - 5mon

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.

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WoodScientist @sh.itjust.works - 5mon

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.

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mojofrododojo @lemmy.world - 5mon

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.

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BrainInABox @lemmy.ml - 5mon

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

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Nath - 5mon

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.

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obsolete @lemmy.dbzer0.com - 5mon

He has always been irrelevant in Australia.

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makingStuffForFun @lemmy.ml - 5mon

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?

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maniacalmanicmania - 5mon

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.

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