Lidia Thorpe investigated over threat to burn down Parliament House
Controversial Senator Lidia Thorpe is being probed by the Australian Federal Police after she threatened to “burn down” parliament at an anti-Israel protest in Melbourne.
Senator Lidia Thorpe is being probed by the Australian Federal Police after she threatened to “burn down” parliament at an anti-Israel protest in Melbourne.
Ms Thorpe made the remark while giving a speech in front of thousands on the steps of the State Library on Sunday.
An AFP spokesman said investigations began “almost immediately” into whether she breached legislation.
“The AFP is aware of comments made at a protest regarding Australian Parliament House,” he said in a statement on Monday.
“The AFP’s National Security Investigations team in Victoria began investigating almost immediately into whether the comments breach legislation. This will be done methodically.
“It is not the usual practice of the AFP to provide a running commentary on matters.
“However, noting the public commentary and concern, the AFP is seeking to reassure the community that this issue is being appropriately considered and undertaken in a timely manner.
“Further comment will be made at an appropriate time.”
It is unclear what legislation may have been breached.
Senator Thorpe was one of several speakers to address the crowd on Sunday.
Likening the struggle of the Palestinian people to the Indigenous population in Australia, Ms Thorpe concluded her speech with the provocative statement.
“So we stand with you every day, and we will fight every day, and we will turn up every day and if I have to burn down Parliament House to make a point … I am not there to make friends,” she said.
“I am there to get justice for our people and I am there to free Palestine from the river to the sea.”
It comes as Free Palestine Melbourne organisers joined dozens of similar actions across the country, with protests held in Bairnsdale, Bendigo, Geelong, Traralgon and Warrnambool.
The protests came despite a peace deal agreed to this week by Hamas and Israel, announced by US President Donald Trump on October 8.
Ms Thorpe questioned the legitimacy of the recent ceasefire announcement negotiated between Israel and Hamas, taking aim at US President Donald Trump.
“How can we trust Trump and these racist Nazis that continue to violate our lives, our babies, our women, our families, our land?”
“There will be no justice unless Palestine self determines their own destiny,” she added, to thunderous applause from the crowd.
Activist Gary Foley also addressed the crowd, unable to speak for long due to lung complications.
Echoing points made by Ms Thorpe, Mr Foley took aim at President Trump.
“Good to see a big crowd here today … don’t be fooled by fake Trump bullsh*t,” he said.
“The fight goes on, the struggle goes on.”
He expressed his solidarity with the Palestinian people on behalf of the Aboriginal community.
Organisers and speakers called for those in attendance to question and reject the peace deal orchestrated between Israel and Palestine, with people chanting “Shame USA” and “f**k Trump” outside the US Consulate.
For over an hour, speakers including a Students for Palestine member, called for protesters to put pressure on the government to stop investing in weapons manufacturing through the Australian Future Fund.
After 4pm, when most had dispersed and headed home, a handful of protesters were seen blocking tram lines and traffic along St Kilda Rd.
Trams were seen backed up for over 30 minutes as those protesters meandered along the tram line waving flags and banging drums, much to the chagrin of police officers clearing the road ahead.
Police estimate 3500 people attended the rally and subsequent protest on Sunday, with no arrests made.
Sunday’s march drew some criticism, with Caulfield MP David Southwick asking, on the eve of a peace deal coming to fruition in Gaza, what were “protesters still protesting about?”
“Victoria remains the only state in Australia without a protest permit system,” he said.
“Other states can mange them why can’t we?”
“In the last two years since October 7, we’ve seen unprecedented hate directed at Victoria’s Jewish community and both the state and federal governments have failed to act.”
It comes after about 400 people in Melbourne’s Jewish community gathered at Caulfield Park to welcome the prospect of hostages returning home.
“After two long years of gatherings in Caulfield Park to pray and call for the hostages to be returned, the moment we’ve all been waiting for has finally arrived,” Mr Southwick said.
“They are coming home.”
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