Senator Lidia Thorpe has reaffirmed her stance following her suspension for tearing up a motion from Pauline Hanson and showing her disapproval to fellow senators. The incident unfolded amid a heated exchange in the Senate where Senator Payman, originally from Afghanistan, accused Hanson of racism. Thorpe, in response, labeled Hanson’s actions as ‘disgusting’. ‘What Senator Hanson did to Senator Payman was an act of disgusting racism, questioning Senator Payman’s legitimacy to be in this place,’ Thorpe stated during an interview with ABC News on Thursday. She expressed her determination to confront racism, asserting, ‘I would do it again.’ ‘It’s been a horrible week, and when you’re subjected to racism … I stand up against it. I ripped up a piece of paper.’ As a result of her actions, Thorpe was suspended for the rest of the sitting week. She criticized the parliament’s handling of racism, voicing her frustration over being labeled the ‘naughty little Blak girl’. ‘They are quick to punish the Blak woman here all the time for calling it out, but I am responding to racism, and that’s what they need to focus on,’ she said. Government Senate leader Penny Wong remarked that there have been numerous instances of inappropriate conduct from Thorpe towards other senators, emphasizing that all Australians should feel safe at work. The motion to suspend Thorpe passed with 45 votes in favor and 11 against, with the Greens Party opposing it in support of their former colleague. Thorpe countered Wong’s comments, demanding greater action against racism in parliament. ‘They need to not allow Senator Hanson and others to spew hate speech in our workplace,’ she said. Thorpe also highlighted the need for an open inquiry into racism within the parliamentary system, claiming that systemic issues must be addressed to stamp out colonial violence against Black and Brown people. She stated, ‘If we can’t stamp it out here, then we can’t stamp it out for the rest of the nation.’ The suspension has significant implications, preventing Thorpe from advancing a private member’s bill on genocide, which aimed to limit the attorney-general’s power to block prosecutions for genocide or war crimes. Thorpe remarked on the timing of her suspension, noting its coincidence with the vote on her bill. On Thursday morning, she made headlines again by entering the press gallery chanting ‘free Palestine’ before exiting the chamber. Protests supporting her bill are anticipated outside parliament as she vows to continue her fight against racism.
