Lidia Thorpe responds to extraordinary suspension from Senate
Senator Lidia Thorpe says the Senate has punished her for speaking out against racism after she was extraordinarily suspended from the chamber for the rest of the sitting year.
The former Greens senator tore up a motion by Senator Pauline Hanson and threw it at her after the One Nation leader attempted to question Senator Fatima Payman's eligibility to sit in parliament.
That caused a furore after Senator Payman accused Senator Hanson of being racist before being forced to withdraw the remark.
On Wednesday night, the government, opposition, One Nation, and crossbenchers David Pocock, Jacqui Lambie and Ralph Babet voted together to suspend Senator Thorpe from the chamber until the end of Thursday evening, the last sitting day of the year.
Senator Lidia Thorpe walks out of the chamber after Senator Pauline Hanson's motion questioning Fatima Payman's citizenship.
In interviews with the ABC and Channel Nine, Senator Thorpe said she wished they had been more concerned about racism in the chamber.
"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," Senator Thorpe said.
"It's been a horrible week, and when you're subjected to racism … I stand up against it. I ripped up a piece of paper," she said.
"Senator Hanson is a 'convicted' racist, she has worn a burqa in the chamber, she baits me regularly with racial taunts."
Last week Senator Hanson was ruled to have racially vilified Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi in a tweet where she told the senator to "piss off back to Pakistan".
Senator Hanson said on Wednesday she would appeal the court's finding that she had made a "racist attack" against Senator Faruqi.
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said the Senate was forced to take a stand against Senator Thorpe after her pattern of unparliamentary behaviour had escalated into "aggressive" physical disruption.
"I think if people saw what happened yesterday, they would not tolerate it in their workplace," Senator Gallagher said.
"Nobody enjoyed what happened yesterday. Senator Hanson, whether you agree with her or not, should not be aggressively approached in the chamber with paper thrown in her face."
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said aggressive behaviour towards senators was unacceptable, regardless of who they were.
Senator Thorpe said the incident was proof her joint push with Senator Faruqi to establish an open inquiry into racism in parliament was needed.
She said there was a double standard for accepted behaviour in the Senate.
"We're the ones that are the naughty little black girl. And that's okay if you want to call me that and call me disruptive, but I will not sit there and be silent when people of colour are being attacked with racism," she said.
Senator Hanson said in a statement the institution of parliament had been disrespected.
"When you are given the extraordinary privilege of representing Australians in parliament, you don’t trash our country. You don't trash its institutions. You don't trash its people," she said.
The Senate voted on Monday to refer an inquiry into racism to an internal committee.
