Tensions emerge as Lidia Thorpe’s relative is elected to lead Victoria’s Indigenous assembly

Tensions have emerged among Victoria’s Indigenous assembly, after the election of Lidia Thorpe’s cousin and his wife to key leadership positions.

Tensions have emerged among the newly elected members of Victoria’s Indigenous assembly after Lidia Thorpe’s cousin and his wife were elected into senior leadership positions.

At last month’s First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria elections, Ngarra Murray was elected as co-chair while her husband, Alister Thorpe, was elected to the board of directors and as chair of the internal governance committee.

The Herald Sun understands the relationship is creating angst among several members, with concerns it represents a potential conflict within senior decision-making elements of the body, which has significant funding.

This year’s budget included an $82m commitment to support the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria to prepare for Treaty negotiations under a $475m investment in First Peoples.

Newly elected First People’s Assembly co-chair Ngarra Murray. Picture: Jason Edwards

A source unauthorised to speak publicly said the move was potentially damaging to the reputation of the assembly.

“It has no doubt set off numerous alarm bells both internally and in government,” they said.

Mr Thorpe is a relative of Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe – a vocal critic of the federal Voice to Parliament.

The senator’s family members and political allies earlier this year ran for Assembly elections in an attempt to control the body, which will be Victoria’s local version of the Voice.

The Herald Sun understands Ms Murray is also aligned with Ms Thorpe.

The First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria is the democratic body representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Victoria’s treaty process. Picture: Blake Byron Smit

The ex-Greens Senator accused Liberal Senator David Van of sexual harassment in June, using parliamentary privilege to claim she was “being followed, aggressively propositioned and inappropriately touched”.

Assembly co-chair Rueben Berg did not directly answer the Herald Sun’s questions about Ms Murray and Mr Thorpe’s relationship or whether it was causing a stir between members, instead saying the Assembly would apply its policies where appropriate.

“Following the historic Treaty Elections in which eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Victoria chose the people they wanted negotiating a statewide Treaty, the democratically elected Assembly members held their first meeting last week to elect their leadership team.

“The Assembly has various policies and strong governance processes in place and as the new council gets to work, it will apply them appropriately,” Mr Berg said.