By April Glover
Federal MP Bob Katter refused to swear allegiance to King Charles III, as is tradition for sitting MPs when parliament resumes.
When asked, Katter replied: “No, I swear allegiance to the Australian people.”
The veteran Queensland MP previously said he has never sworn allegiance to a monarch in his 50 years in politics.
He said last November it was “extremely disrespectful that Australian MPs aren’t offered the opportunity to swear ‘their allegiance to the people of Australia’ each time a new parliament sits”.
Indigenous Senator Lidia Thorpe caused a stir last year when she claimed she had never properly sworn allegiance to the Queen or King, revealing she has always said “hairs” not “heirs” during the proceedings.
Thorpe was also made to repeat the oath after she called the Queen a “coloniser” in 2022.
