MELBOURNE, Australia — On Monday, an Australian court saw a woman facing charges related to an assault against an Indigenous senator, who recently voiced her discontent at a royal reception for King Charles III. The incident took place on May 25 during an Australian Rules Football match in Melbourne, the senator’s home city.
Ebony Bell, 28, connected to the court proceedings via video link during her appearance in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court. She has been charged with two counts of recklessly causing injury and three counts of unlawful assault within the stadium premises. According to police reports, the 51-year-old senator, Lidia Thorpe, suffered what was characterized as “minor” injuries; however, Thorpe has claimed in a statement that she has “sustained serious nerve and spinal injuries in my neck, which required spinal surgery and a plate to be inserted.”
Law enforcement was alerted to the assault the following day, leading to Bell’s arrest on July 25. It was noted in court that the two women were acquaintances, though the underlying motive for the alleged assault was not disclosed. Bell’s attorney, Manny Nicolosi, argued that the prosecution’s case had “real deficiencies.” He also revealed that a plea deal had been proposed by the prosecution the previous Friday but noted that he required more time to assess this offer adequately.
Nicolosi further mentioned that his Indigenous client had opted not to attend court physically due to “recent threats,” though specifics about these threats were not provided. Bell has been released on bail and is scheduled for a court appearance on November 22, which the magistrate permitted to be conducted via video link.
Recently, Thorpe made headlines after a contentious outburst directed at King Charles during a royal reception at the Parliament House in Canberra. She loudly declared, “You are not our king. You are not sovereign,” while being escorted out by security. She amplified her message by stating, “You committed genocide against our people. Give us our land back. Give us what you stole from us: our bones, our skulls, our babies, our people.”
As a response to her actions, the primary opposition party in Australia has called for Thorpe’s resignation from the Senate and is seeking legal guidance on the matter. Known for her high-profile protests, Thorpe made headlines in the past, such as when she blocked a police float at Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras by lying in the street.
Thorpe recently revealed the extent of her injuries, noting that she has missed 16 out of the Senate’s 44 sitting days this year due to medical advice that restricted her travel and work attendance. “I would have preferred to keep this matter private and I will not be commenting on it further at this stage,” she stated, emphasizing her doctor’s recommendations for recovery.
In light of her outburst, Thorpe faced significant backlash for what many perceived as disrespect toward the monarchy. She is expected to encounter further criticism when senators return following the royal visit. Thorpe has yet to announce if she will participate in upcoming Senate committee meetings either in person or remotely.
She has also raised eyebrows concerning the legitimacy of her Senate appointment. During her affirmation ceremony in 2022, she claimed to have intentionally said “hairs” instead of “heirs” when pledging allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II, suggesting a deliberate exclusion of Charles from her affirmation. However, she later clarified that the mix-up was unintentional. Legal experts have indicated that errors in pronunciation do not invalidate the affirmation, noting that Thorpe did sign a written pledge with the correct wording.
Anne Twomey, a constitutional law expert from Sydney University, pointed out that the Senate’s authority to discipline Thorpe is limited, given that the outburst transpired in Parliament’s Great Hall as opposed to inside the Senate chamber.