Senator Lidia Thorpe has expressed that she does not regret her actions which led to her suspension from the Senate, asserting that her punishment stemmed from her vocal stance against racism. Thorpe, a former Greens senator, created a stir when she tore up a motion presented by Senator Pauline Hanson and threw it at her after Hanson questioned Senator Fatima Payman’s eligibility to serve in parliament. This incident escalated further when Senator Payman accused Hanson of racism, a remark she was later compelled to retract. In a joint decision, government members, opposition, One Nation, and crossbenchers voted to suspend Thorpe for the remainder of the sitting year.
In interviews with ABC and Channel Nine, Thorpe lamented the Senate’s lack of concern regarding racism, stating, ‘They are quick to punish the black woman here all the time for calling it out.’ She emphasized her commitment to confronting racism, recounting how she ripped the paper in response to the situation.
Thorpe described Hanson as a ‘convicted’ racist, recalling previous incidents involving Hanson’s inflammatory remarks. This month, Hanson was found to have racially vilified Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi in a social media post, which she plans to appeal. Following Thorpe’s comments, Hanson issued a warning to media outlets about the potential legal consequences for continuing to propagate what she deemed false claims.
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher stated that the Senate had no choice but to respond to Thorpe’s escalating ‘aggressive’ behavior, asserting that such conduct was unacceptable in any workplace. Meanwhile, Thorpe argued that her experience highlighted a double standard in the Senate regarding acceptable behavior, saying, ‘We’re the ones that are the naughty little black girl.’
Hanson, in her defense, declared that the parliament had been disrespected, asserting that those in positions of power must uphold the dignity of the institution. Amid these tensions, the Senate has moved to investigate racism within its ranks, with Thorpe maintaining her presence in the chamber despite her suspension, raising a fist and declaring ‘Free Palestine’ before departing.
