Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe made a striking fashion statement in the Australian Senate this week, with her bold outfit drawing immediate comparisons to a beloved character from iconic Australian television.
A Parliamentary Fashion Moment
The 52-year-old politician appeared in parliament on Tuesday wearing an eye-catching figure-hugging aqua-blue dress that turned heads in the Canberra chamber. She completed her striking look with perfectly straight, sleek brunette hair styled with a sharp fringe sweeping across her forehead, creating an appearance that many observers found reminiscent of Gina Riley's unforgettable character from the cult classic sitcom Kath & Kim.
The similarity didn't go unnoticed by Sky News reporter Rita Panahi, who shared a side-by-side comparison on social media featuring Thorpe alongside Riley's renowned character Kim Craig. Panahi captioned her post with the simple but effective: 'Senator Lidia Thorpe channelling Kim.'
Senator's Hilarious Response
Rather than taking offence at the comparison, the outspoken senator embraced it with characteristic humour. Thorpe shared Panahi's post to her own social media page with a hilarious reference to one of Kim Craig's most famous catchphrases from the show.
'I'm not a housewife, I'm a hornbag! Two staunch icons,' Thorpe wrote, before adding a surprising compliment for the Sky News reporter: 'Thanks Rita Panahi, I'd usually say the Sky News mob are a pack of chunts, but you're getting something right for once!'
The senator's witty response won praise from social media users, with many pointing out that being compared to such an iconic Australian character should be considered an honour rather than an insult.
Public Reaction and Cultural Legacy
Public response to the fashion comparison was overwhelmingly positive, with numerous social media users defending the comparison as complimentary. One person wrote on X: 'This ain't the dunk you think it is lol. Kath and Kim are Aussie icons. It's an honour to be compared to them.'
Another commenter noted: 'I'm not a fan of either the OP or the subject, but to be compared to an Aussie Icon like Kim should only ever be seen as a compliment.' A third observer praised Thorpe's handling of the situation, writing: 'I actually was impressed with her response.'
The timing of this fashion moment coincides with renewed interest in the classic sitcom, which has recently found a new generation of fans after becoming available on streaming service Netflix. The show originally aired on ABC and Channel Seven between 2002 and 2007, becoming a cultural touchstone for Australians.
Interestingly, this parliamentary fashion moment comes months after it was revealed why Kath & Kim star Gina Riley walked away from fame at the height of her career. The 64-year-old Australian comedian explained in a resurfaced interview that she consciously decided to leave the spotlight to live a normal life, describing herself as 'totally boring in everyday life.'
Riley and her co-star Jane Turner, both 64, reportedly never felt comfortable with fame, with Riley explaining they were 'more observers' who didn't 'super belong' in the celebrity lifestyle. Despite the show's massive success, Riley has made only occasional media appearances since the series ended in 2007, including reprising her role in the 2012 movie Kath and Kimderella.
The original series produced two spin-off movies - Da Kath & Kim Code in 2005 and Kath and Kimderella in 2012 - and featured hilarious cameos from international stars including Shane Warne, Kylie Minogue and Michael Bublé.
