Anthony Albanese makes history at Mardi Gras, ex-Greens senator clashes with police

Footage shows former Greens senator Lidia Thorpe clashing with police at Sydney’s Mardi Gras parade on Saturday night.

People gather on Oxford Street to watch the 45th Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade in Sydney on February 25, 2023. Picture: Saeed Khan/AFP

Former Greens senator Lidia Thorpe clashed with police at Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade on Saturday night and had to be removed at the request of organisers.

Police say she was kicked out of the parade after laying down in front of a float on Oxford Street.

Footage of the incident, shared on social media, shows the Greens defector holding the front of a truck while splayed out on the bitumen as a pair of officers attempt to move her on.

Crowds gathered to celebrate Australia’s LGBTQIA+ community can be heard shouting “get rid of her” amid a chorus of boos.

The footage shows Ms Thorpe get up from the ground and point her finger towards a male officer’s face.

As she walks towards him, the officer appears to put his hands out to push her back.

In a statement, NSW Police said an incident occurred about 9pm when a woman lay in front of a float and was “removed from the parade at the request of organisers”.

Earlier in the night, the Victorian senator who left the Greens to pursue black sovereignty chanted to the crowd: “There’s no pride in genocide”.

Ms Thorpe was approached by news.com.au and asked if she was at the parade for the pride movement or for another reason.

“I beg your pardon, what’s that question about?” she replied before rejecting a request to be interviewed.

Lidia Thorpe was removed from the parade at the request of organisers, police say.

#MardiGras2023#MardiGraspic.twitter.com/V6eRwmTKKT

— ADAY (@AlexDay96) February 25, 2023

Happy #MardiGras#WorldPride 2023 pic.twitter.com/4F0vAfIKr0

— Senator Lidia Thorpe (@SenatorThorpe) February 25, 2023

Earlier, the 45th annual parade made history as Anthony Albanese became the first Australian prime minister to march at the event.

He was filmed marching in a grey polo shirt and jeans.

Sydney Morning Herald reporter Amber Schultz shared a video of the PM’s appearance, but noted jokingly: “Albo has arrived at Mardi Gras with a disappointing lack of glitter, sequins or fabulousness. Cool to have the first PM march but what a missed opportunity to slay in some eyeshadow.”

Mr Albanese wrote on social media after the march that the parade was a celebration of how far Australia has come.

“When the first Mardi Gras march was held in 1978, you could still be arrested for being gay.In the decades since, people dedicated their lives toward the campaign for equality,” he wrote.

“To be accepted as equal and recognised for who they are and who they love.I’ve been proudly marching in Mardi Gras since the 80s. This year I’m honoured to be the first Prime Minister to join the march.”

The parade, which kicked off at 7.30pm, sees more than 200 floats and roughly 12,500 revellers march from Hyde Park to Moore Park. They are celebrating the 2023 theme: Gather, Dream, Amplify.

The annual celebrations have of course been missing in recent years thanks to the pandemic. Covid measures forced organisers to hold the event at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 2021 and 2022 but this year it returns to Oxford Street.

People gather on Oxford Street to watch the 45th Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade. Picture: Saeed Khan / AFP

The event returns to the streets after being held at the SCG for two years. Picture: Saeed Khan/AFP.

Revellers did not disappoint on Saturday night. Picture: Saeed Khan/AFP

The Dykes on Bikes open the 2023 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade pic.twitter.com/nx1hGh0UXJ

— Ben Grubb 🐛 (@bengrubb) February 25, 2023

Good luck kiss from my husband before we start rolling for @SydWorldPride Mardi Gras 🌈 pic.twitter.com/Gss9L3fM1k

— Alex Greenwich MP (@AlexGreenwich) February 25, 2023

A participant at Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade on Saturday night. Picture: Matrix.

The parade, which began in 1978, is bigger than ever this year. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

The outfits are as bold as expected. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

The size of this year’s event means Sydney city had to shut its streets at 6pm.

Organisers earlier advised revellers to view the parade from Flinders St or Anzac Pde as Oxford St was filling up fast.

Roads were shut from 2pm and will remain closed into the early hours of Sunday morning.

Transport NSW has also planned extra trains and buses to operate throughout the event.

Heavy traffic is expected to clog surrounding streets of the CBD.

A team of volunteers — the ACON Rovers — will be dressed in bright pink vests to provide information and a helping hand.

Sydney Mardi Gras kicked off on Friday night with an iconic performance from Kylie and Dannii Minogue.

— with Clare Sibthorpe