Lidia Thorpe

During King Charles III's visit to the Australian Parliament, Thorpe interrupted an official reception by shouting accusations relating to colonisation, genocide and Indigenous sovereignty before being escorted from the room. In November 2024, the Senate adopted a censure motion against her over the incident.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

Thorpe acknowledged failing to disclose to her party and to a parliamentary committee dealing with policing and organised crime a personal connection with Dean Martin, a former president of a Rebels chapter. She resigned as the Greens' deputy leader in the Senate. A subsequent Privileges Committee inquiry examined whether the situation had compromised the committee's work.

Thorpe left the Greens in February 2023 after months of conflict over strategy towards the Voice to Parliament referendum. She believed that a treaty and sovereignty should precede or frame the Voice, while the party was moving towards support for the Yes campaign.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

A video showed Thorpe engaged in a late-night verbal altercation with men outside a Melbourne establishment. The manager accused the senator of provoking or prolonging the incident, while the footage attracted political criticism, including from the Prime Minister.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

When taking her oath in 2022, Thorpe added a reference to the "colonising" Queen Elizabeth II to the official text. The Senate President asked her to repeat the oath using the prescribed wording, which she did.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

Former Thorpe staff members described a difficult working environment, and a former chief of staff initiated workplace health and safety proceedings. First Peoples' Assembly co-chair Geraldine Atkinson also lodged a complaint about an exchange she described as verbally aggressive. A Department of Finance review concerning aspects of the office's operations was reported.

Attribution

Directly implicated

During a heated Senate exchange, Lidia Thorpe made a remark to Liberal senator Hollie Hughes translated as "at least I keep my legs shut". The phrase was widely condemned, and Thorpe subsequently apologised publicly.

State of the evidence

Admitted by the person

Attribution

Personally implicated

After a fire at the entrance to Old Parliament House during a protest, Thorpe posted a message saying, in substance, that "the colonial system is burning" and wishing people a happy new year. Numerous officials and former politicians interpreted the tweet as celebrating the fire, and it was quickly deleted.

State of the evidence

Reported by the press

Attribution

Personally implicated