Senator Lidia Thorpe has expressed that she does not regret her actions which led to her suspension from the Senate, claiming the punishment was a response to her vocal stance against racism. The former Greens senator was suspended for the remainder of the sitting year after tearing up a motion put forth by Senator Pauline Hanson and throwing it at her. This incident ignited a significant outcry when Senator Fatima Payman accused Senator Hanson of racism, a charge she later retracted under pressure.
In a series of interviews with ABC and Channel Nine, Senator Thorpe lamented the Senate’s lack of concern regarding racism within its ranks. “They are quick to punish the black woman here all the time for calling it out, but I am responding to racism, and that is what they need to focus on,” she stated, reflecting on the challenges of confronting such issues in a hostile environment.
Senator Thorpe characterized the week as particularly difficult, emphasizing her commitment to standing against racism by any means necessary, which included ripping up the motion that questioned Senator Payman’s citizenship. She labeled Senator Hanson as a ‘convicted’ racist for her past behavior, including wearing a burqa in the chamber and frequently baiting Thorpe with racial taunts. This follows a recent court ruling that found Senator Hanson guilty of racially vilifying Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi, a ruling that Hanson plans to appeal.
After Thorpe’s interviews, Senator Hanson issued a warning to media outlets regarding the repeated claims made by Thorpe, asserting that her allegations were false and demanding a retraction and apology. Hanson clarified that the ruling against her was a civil matter, which meant no criminal conviction was established.
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher condemned Thorpe’s conduct, stating that the Senate had to take action against her due to a pattern of disruptive behavior that escalated to physical aggression. “I think if people saw what happened yesterday, they would not tolerate it in their workplace,” Gallagher remarked, emphasizing that such aggressive behavior is unacceptable in any professional setting.
Thorpe responded to the incident by advocating for an open inquiry into racism in parliament, highlighting what she sees as a double standard in how behavior is judged based on race. “We’re the ones that are the naughty little black girl,” she said, indicating that while she may be labeled as disruptive, she refuses to remain silent in the face of racial attacks.
Senator Hanson, meanwhile, asserted that the actions taken by Thorpe disrespected the institution of parliament, stressing the importance of maintaining dignity in such roles. The Senate has since voted to investigate racism within its walls, a move that Thorpe hopes will address the systemic issues she and others have faced.
In a surprising turn, despite her suspension, Senator Thorpe managed to re-enter the Senate, raising her fist and chanting ‘Free Palestine’ before leaving voluntarily, indicating her ongoing commitment to her cause even in the face of official reprimand.
