Bombshell as Bandt seeks Greens senator’s resignation

A Greens senator has resigned as the party’s deputy leader after her relationship with a former bikie boss was exposed.

Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe has resigned as the party’s deputy leader in the wake of a report she briefly dated a former bikie boss.

The circumstances surrounding the resignation have drawn serious concerns from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who has demanded an explanation from the Greens.

“I think that these are concerning revelations to believe that the oversight processes over the legal system will be maintained in a way that ensures integrity and ensures that any information which is given there is kept in a confidential basis,” he said.

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has shared his concerns about the resignation.

“I note that Senator Thorpe has said that this is an error of judgment – that is the least description that I would put to it.

“Adam Bandt has to explain what his office knew and what he knew and why he wasn’t informed about these issues given his office was informed, why that is the case.”

Earlier today, ABC revealed that Senator Thorpe failed to disclose a past relationship with a former bikie boss – ex-president of the Rebels in Victoria, Dean Martin – in early 2021.

The Greens leader, Adam Bandt, confirmed he had sought her resignation in a press conference today.

“Media raised with me matters pertaining to Senator Thorpe which I was not aware until the media raised them,” he said.

Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe says she remains friends with Dean Martin, rebel bikie Picture: Facebook

“I have since looked into those matters. I have asked Senator Thorpe for her resignation as deputy leader in the Senate and I have received a resignation.

“As a leader I expect my senators and MPs, especially those in leadership positions, to exercise good judgment.

“At a minimum, Senator Thorpe needed to disclose to me her connection to Mr Martin and her failure to do so showed a significant lack of judgment.”

Mr Bandt said Senator Thorpe was understanding of his decision.

“I now expect her to demonstrate better judgment going forward and in exercising her continuing portfolio responsibilities.

“I note also that Senator Thorpe has not held the justice portfolio since the election. Senator Thorpe has important work to do on First Nations justice including on progressing truth, treaty and voice and I want her to be able to do that work.”

A statement from Ms Thorpe also confirmed the resignation, acknowledging a lapse in judgment.

“I accept that I have made mistakes and have not exercised good judgment,” the Victorian Senator said.

“I will now reflect on this and focus on my important portfolio work, especially advocating for First Nations people.”

Senator Thorpe recently confirmed she briefly dated the former Rebels president while failing to disclose the relationship.

Deputy Lidia Thorpe has stood down as Greens deputy leader. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

At the time she was working on the joint parliamentary law enforcement committee she was privy to confidential briefings about bikie gangs and organised crime.

Her staff reportedly alerted party leader Adam Bandt and an independent parliamentary authority after finding out about the relationship.

She detailed the nature of the relationship with Mr Martin to the ABC.

“We met through Blak activism and briefly dated in early 2021,” said.

“We remain friends and have collaborated on our shared interests advocating for the rights of First Nations peoples.”

Despite a more than 25-year affiliation with the Rebels, Mr Martin has no criminal convictions.

Former Rebels bikie member Dean Martin Picture: Nine news

He is notably the brother of Shane Martin, AFL star Dusty Martin’s father, who was deported to New Zealand over links to outlaw motorcycle gangs.

Thorpe confronted

Ms Thorpe told one of her staff about the relationship in May last year and another a month later, ABC reported.

It was in August 2021 that one of the staffers decided to confront Ms Thorpe while at a remote sitting of parliament.

The confrontation came after confidential law enforcement committee briefing documents arrived at Ms Thorpe’s Melbourne office containing details on the AFP’s monitoring of outlaw motorcycle gangs.

On the same day, according to the staffer, Ms Thorpe returned to the office following Question Time and told them she had just come from a meeting in a park across the road with Mr Martin.

In a work diary entry on August 25, the staffer wrote that she had encouraged her boss to disclose the relationship to the leader’s office.

“My advice to Senator is that she must speak to leader’s office, that she is at extreme risk of being extorted, particularly if someone finds out,” the entry read.

“[The] Senator [has been] advised that the risks are catastrophic and that she would have to resign. I advised that it was absolutely necessary that I record the fact that I have given her this advice, and that ultimately it was up to her to take it or not,” it continued.

Adam Bandt delivered a press conference regarding Lidia Thorpe. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Luis Ascui

“She has chosen not to take it … I highlighted the huge, real, risk. She assured me the relationship was no longer underway.”

The staffer also reported being told by Ms Thorpe the couple were using an encrypted messaging app to communicate and deleted their messaging history once a week.

They also never met at their respective homes, they added, and were being “really careful”, according to what Ms Thorpe told the staffer.

The staffer was again concerned after seeing Ms Thorpe and Mr Martin in her electorate office together in February this year, with them speaking privately in a room for 15 minutes before leaving.

Ms Thorpe claimed the meeting was scheduled “to discuss issues related to deportation of First Nations people including his brother [Shane]”.

Shane died in New Zealand late last year.

Matter refered to AFP

One former staff member who spoke to ABC said they reported their concern over the relationship to Mr Bandt’s chief of staff Damien Lawson, who they claimed told them “Do you mind if we don’t tell Adam?” in a statutory declaration.

Mr Lawson denied asking the matter not to be reported to Mr Bandt and claimed he thought the staffer would report his concerns to Ms Thorpe.

The staffer originally raised the matter with Mr Bandt’s office in October 2021 before making a formal complaint about wider concerns within the office in June this year, then complained to the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service in August.

Mr Bandt was oblivious to the relationship until he was contacted by ABC.

WA Greens Senator Dorinda Cox however, was aware of the relationship.

“I understand they dated for a short time and they are friends,” Senator Cox told the publication.

The matter had been referred by the PWSS to the AFP according to an email to one of the staffers.