Senator Lidia Thorpe has voiced her defiance after being extraordinarily suspended from the Senate, claiming that her punishment was a direct consequence of her outspoken stance against racism. The former Greens senator caused a stir when she tore up a motion presented by Senator Pauline Hanson, who questioned the eligibility of Senator Fatima Payman to serve in parliament. This incident ignited significant controversy, culminating in Senator Payman accusing Senator Hanson of racism, a remark she later retracted.
In a rare show of unity, members from the government, opposition, One Nation, and crossbenchers voted to suspend Senator Thorpe for the remainder of the sitting year. Thorpe expressed her frustrations in interviews, asserting that the Senate’s quickness to penalise her—a black woman—overshadowed the pressing issue of racism in the chamber. “I am responding to racism, and that is what they need to focus on,” she stated, reflecting on a week filled with racial tensions.
Thorpe did not hold back on her views regarding Senator Hanson, whom she labelled a ‘convicted’ racist, referencing Hanson’s past provocative actions, including wearing a burqa in parliament and making racial taunts. The controversy surrounding Hanson escalated earlier this month when she was found to have racially vilified Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi in a social media post, leading to calls for accountability.
Despite the backlash, Senator Hanson has contested the civil finding against her, asserting that her allegations are baseless and threatening legal action against media outlets repeating Senator Thorpe’s claims.
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher intervened, condemning Thorpe’s behaviour as disruptive and stating that aggressive actions towards fellow senators are intolerable in any workplace. She emphasized that such conduct, regardless of the individual involved, must not be accepted within the Senate.
In light of these events, Senator Thorpe has reiterated the urgent need for an open inquiry into racism within the parliamentary system, highlighting a perceived double standard in how behaviour is judged based on race. “We’re the naughty little black girls. And that’s okay if you want to call me that and call me disruptive, but I will not sit there and be silent when people of colour are being attacked with racism,” she insisted.
Senator Hanson, in response, claimed that the actions of Senator Thorpe have disrespected parliamentary institutions, stating that those who represent Australians must uphold the integrity of the nation’s institutions and people. Following the Senate’s decision to launch an inquiry into racism, Thorpe made a dramatic return to the chamber, raising her fist and shouting “Free Palestine” before leaving voluntarily, underscoring her commitment to advocacy amid the chaos of the political arena.
