Senator Lidia Thorpe has declared that she does not regret her actions which led to her suspension from the Senate, claiming the punishment is a direct consequence of her efforts to address racism. The former Greens senator was suspended for the remainder of the sitting year after an incident involving a motion from Senator Pauline Hanson. Thorpe tore up Hanson’s motion and threw it at her, which sparked outrage in the chamber after Senator Fatima Payman accused Hanson of racism, a claim she later retracted under pressure.
In a series of interviews, Thorpe expressed frustration at the Senate’s response to her outcry against racism, stating, “They are quick to punish the black woman here all the time for calling it out.” She emphasized the need for the Senate to focus on the racism that persists within its walls, describing her week as particularly harrowing due to the racial discrimination she faced.
Thorpe did not shy away from calling Hanson a ‘convicted’ racist, citing past incidents, including a controversial tweet where Hanson directed offensive comments towards Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi. In response to the backlash, Hanson announced her intention to appeal a court decision that found her to have racially vilified Faruqi.
The Senate’s decision to suspend Thorpe was supported by members across the political spectrum, including the government and the opposition. Finance Minister Katy Gallagher justified the suspension by highlighting a pattern of Thorpe’s disruptive behavior, stating that such aggression should not be tolerated in any workplace.
Thorpe argued that the incident highlighted the need for an inquiry into racism within the parliament, asserting that there is a double standard in how behavior is judged, particularly for people of color. She stated, “We’re the ones that are the naughty little black girl… but I will not sit there and be silent when people of colour are being attacked with racism.”
Hanson responded to the situation by claiming that the integrity of parliament had been undermined and emphasized the responsibilities that come with being a representative of the Australian people. Despite her suspension, Thorpe made headlines again when she returned to the Senate, raising a fist in solidarity and shouting “Free Palestine,” before leaving the chamber voluntarily.
