Lidia Thorpe has been suspended from the Senate under a rarely used parliamentary rule after appearing to throw paper at Pauline Hanson during a tense debate. The suspension, which runs from Wednesday night until the end of Thursday, was moved by government Senate leader Penny Wong and passed by 46 votes to 11, with only the Greens opposing.
Wong said there had been multiple instances where Thorpe had made “inappropriate and sometimes abusive comments” towards other senators and then disrupted proceedings by refusing to withdraw them. Senate president Sue Lines said Thorpe’s behaviour was “not acceptable” and would “not be tolerated”.
The incident occurred after Hanson attempted to have former Labor senator Fatima Payman investigated over an alleged Section 44 citizenship issue. Thorpe appeared to rip up a paper copy of Hanson’s motion and throw it in Hanson’s direction, with some pieces appearing to hit her. She then walked out of the chamber, holding up her middle finger.
Coalition Senate leader Simon Birmingham called the suspension a “line in the sand” moment, while Greens senator Larissa Waters said the behaviour was not appropriate but the suspension was not a proportionate response. Waters noted the debate had “racially charged overtones”.
Hanson said she was “pleased” to see Thorpe suspended, citing a pattern of aggression and “barbs” she had experienced. The suspension marks the latest in a series of incidents involving Thorpe in the upper house this fortnight, including being censured and making offensive gestures.
