The British monarchy is a decrepit, unjust and dangerous institution.

Today in Parliament, Abigail delivered an adjournment speech condemning the entrenched and outdated legacy of British imperialism in Australia, and the ongoing harm caused by colonial structures and genocidal policies against First Nations peoples.

Abigail said:

The British monarchy is the continuing embodiment of British imperialism and colonialism. It represents invasion, dispossession, and brutal suppression and genocide of Indigenous peoples around the globe. Australian leaders, including the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, and the New South Wales Premier over the past few days have bent over backwards simpering and fawning over the so‑called King Charles III and his wife, Camilla. Public displays of deference have been the order of the day. Before I go any further, let me clear one thing up: Yes, the current monarch is indeed a human being, but the institution he represents is far greater than any individual. He was not here in his capacity as a person, but in his capacity as the monarch and supposed head of state of this historical colonial outpost of his decaying empire. It is right to criticise and protest his presence and the existence of the institution he represents and upholds.

The monarchy is a decrepit, unjust and dangerous institution. But it is not, as much as we might wish it so, irrelevant. The Crown's historical association with colonialism and its continued presence in Australia lend legitimacy to the existing power structures. Its ongoing operation and presence in the structures of our society provide a veneer of tradition and continuity that mask ongoing injustice. It represents a barrier to decolonisation. Self-determination for First Nations people and a break from colonial structures are impossible while the Crown continues to hold symbolic and constitutional power. We see this power today in countless ways, but let me name just one: the rapid mobilisation of the media elites, and political establishment, in condemning a First Nations woman for daring to overtly, publicly and loudly challenge the monarch.

Solidarity with Lidia Thorpe for her bravery and her courage and for so stridently advocating on behalf of the First Nations community she represents. Her clear‑eyed criticism of the so‑called King puts the bootlicking establishment to shame. "You committed genocide against our people," she said. "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. This is not your land. You are not my king." She saw through the nonsense and the pageantry to recognise this perverse institution for what it is. Let me give another quote, this time from the immortal James Connolly:

We will not blame him for the crimes of his ancestors if he relinquishes the royal rights of his ancestors; but as long as he claims their rights, by virtue of descent, then, by virtue of descent, he must shoulder the responsibility for their crimes.

That is what we are demanding. That is what we are asserting. The institution of monarchy is unjust and must be challenged at its root if we are ever to enjoy the fruits of an egalitarian society. The world continues to suffer the long echoes of colonialism and capitalist‑imperialism. The extraction of wealth from colonised lands continues today through multinational corporations, many of them with continuing historical ties to the British Empire. This neo‑colonialism and neo-imperialism maintains unequal trade relationships, siphons resources from the global south to the global north and perpetuates underdevelopment in formerly colonised nations.

This wealth and resource extraction is driving the planet to an existential brink. The ecological crisis is playing out along colonial lines. It is the formerly colonised nations of the global south who bear the overwhelming weight of the suffering of climate breakdown and disaster. This is despite playing functionally no role in its creation. The monarchy is not a benign symbol. It is an active impediment to global justice. Its ongoing presence is an anchor that will hold us down and see us drown. We need to, at a minimum, establish Australia as a republic, but we need to go beyond that mere symbolism. A republic must be a step towards dismantling the colonial legacy and creating a truly just and equitable society.

We need to challenge neo‑colonialism and pursue economic policies that prioritise social welfare and environmental sustainability if we are to break free from the exploitative structures of the past. We need to actively challenge colonial narratives and begin the process of decolonisation. That means a treaty and treaties with First Nations people, recognising their sovereignty and right to self‑determination, and truth‑telling. Because the truth is that, under the political economic structures of British imperialism, genocide and colonisation have occurred and continue to this day. The power of imperial domination seems inescapable but, in reality, it can be changed and must be challenged. The days of blind allegiance to the king are coming to an end. Treaties now.

 

Read the transcript in Hansard here.

 

22 October 2024

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