Topics: Lidia Thorpe’s outburst;
0755 AEST
22 October 2024
Journalist: First of all, just your reaction to the senator’s outburst yesterday.
Simon Birmingham: Clearly, Lidia Thorpe’s actions were reprehensible. I think it’s important for Australians and the rest of the world to know that her actions don’t reflect the vast majority of Indigenous Australians who engage respectfully every single day, whether they agree or disagree with an issue. And the way Lidia Thorpe conducts herself brings shame upon the Parliament, the Senate and those she pretends to represent who are so dismayed by having somebody engage in that type of way.
Journalist: Should she be censured by the Parliament?
Simon Birmingham: One of the problems is Lidia Thorpe would probably revel in being censured by the Senate. And so, we’ve got to think carefully about how we respond to this in ways that try to prevent such behaviour in the future, but don’t give her the oxygen that she so desires for these types of antics. Lidia Thorpe’s existence in the Parliament is a result of Australians voting Greens. This is a big reminder to people. If you risk voting for Greens or other extremist parties, you get people like Lidia Thorpe. Thank you.
[ENDS]