The iconic statue of Queen Victoria in Sydney’s financial district has been defaced with red paint in an alleged protest against King Charles and Queen Camilla’s tour of Australia.
Police are investigating the incident in which red paint was splashed on the statue in front of the Queen Victoria building.
It is hoped that images from security cameras in the area will help identify those responsible.
The incident comes just a day after Senator Lidia Thorpe challenged the king during a welcome reception in federal parliament.
At the meeting in Parliament in Canberra, the Victorian independent senator told the monarch he was not their king.
‘You are not our king. You are not sovereign,’ he shouted.
‘You committed genocide against our people. Give us back our land. Give us what you stole from us: our bones, our skulls, our babies, our people.
‘You destroyed our land. Give us a treaty. We want a treaty.’
The King and Queen, who were still sitting on stage during the confrontation, appeared not to notice when the King turned to speak to the Prime Minister and Camilla.
Charles and Camilla have faced quiet protests during their tour of Australia, from supporters of First Nations resistance to colonization, who have been displaying a banner with the word “decolonise” at various events.
The iconic statue of Queen Victoria, located outside the Queen Victoria Building in Sydney’s central business district, has been defaced with red paint as King Charles tours Australia.
On Tuesday, Labor government minister Amanda Rishworth said Senator Thorpe’s actions were “quite disrespectful and not just to the King but to the many great Australians who had gathered in the Great Hall”.
“We’re quite shocked and we didn’t really understand why this was happening, so it was very disrespectful,” he told Nine’s Today programme.
“But that didn’t stop … the very positive rest of the welcome ceremony, which I think was really very positive.”
National MP Bridget McKenzie said she was shocked.
“If you’re not a fan of King Charles and Queen Camilla, don’t accept the Prime Minister’s invitation,” he told Nine.
The federal opposition is considering bringing a no-confidence motion against Senator Thorpe in the upper house when it meets on November 8.