‘Black cladding’: Lidia Thorpe erupts over Dorinda Cox’s defection to Labor

Firebrand Senator Lidia Thorpe has erupted over Dorinda Cox’s “disappointing” defection from the Greens, accusing Labor of “black cladding”.

EXCLUSIVE

Ex-Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe has slammed the defection of Senator Dorinda Cox to the Labor Party as “black cladding” to promote the illusion that the ALP cares.

The controversial term has been compared to “corporate blackface”, with the concept describing companies that have little to no diversity in their leadership or ownership ranks, but trade off African American culture or the reputation of a few.

For example, the term has been used to describe the world’s biggest brands frequently using African American athletes in their campaigns, despite the fact diversity at the executive and board level remains woeful.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the shock move of Senator Cox, a Yamatji-Noongar woman, on Monday, revealing she had “sat down and thought a lot about this, and her values are more aligned with Labor than the Greens”.

But now the last woman to defect from the Greens has weighed in on the big move and she’s not impressed.

Former Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe has unleashed over Senator Dorinda Cox’s defection to Labor. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“It’s disappointing to see Senator Cox move from the left to the right by joining the Labor Party,’’ Senator Thorpe told news.com.au.

“We know that once you join Labor, you’re shut down.

“You’re not allowed to cross the floor. You’re not allowed to speak freely. You’re expected to fall in line.

“If changing Labor from within was possible, Senator Fatima Payman wouldn’t have been forced to leave the party over Labor’s support for the genocide in Palestine.

“Backbenchers in the Labor Party have no real power to drive change. They must vote with the party, even when it goes against their own conscience or community.

“Labor already has several First Nations MPs. Labor already knows what needs to be done to deliver justice. Yet still, the party continues to fail our people. Adding another black face won’t change that.

“This looks like more black cladding from a party that wants to appear committed to justice for our people without doing the work.”

Senator Dorinda Cox insisted her decision to leave the Greens Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Happier times: Senator Thorpe (right) embraces Senator Cox (left) after her maiden speech in 2021. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Greens leader Larissa Waters has told news.com.au that she was “not entirely surprised” by the shock defection.

“Dorinda called me about an hour or so before she stood up at the PM so that was when I knew,’’ she told news.com.au.

“I wasn’t entirely surprised. It still came as a shock, if that makes sense,

“I mean, she said that her values lie more with the Labor Party. And that’s, that’s, you know, I think she’s spoken truthfully there, right?

“I mean, there’s been, there’s been some fractiousness over the years. I won’t speculate on her motives. I’m prepared to accept the explanation she gave, which was that it was better values-aligned.”

Senator Thorpe suggested that Senator Cox would have less power, not more, by joining Labor.

“The idea that Labor can be changed from within — especially as a backbencher — is, to me, a hopeless ambition. I wish Senator Cox luck, but I won’t be holding my breath,’’ Senator Thorpe said.

“Labor has become a centre-right party. That means I remain the only First Nations federal politician who isn’t sitting on the right side of politics. I’ll keep using my voice to fight for justice, truth, and Sovereignty — without fear or compromise.

“It’s also deeply disappointing that the Greens now have no First Nations representation in the federal parliament. I urge the Greens to listen to grassroots First Nations voices, and their members in the Blak Greens, and rebuild trust with our communities.

Senator Thorpe seen staging a protest against King Charles last year. Picture: Victoria Jones/Reuters

he Prime Minister said this week he was approached by Senator Cox, who was previously a Labor Party member, to represent Labor in the Senate.

“She had come to a view that the differences that she wanted to make in the Senate and as a West Australian were better served by being a member of the Labor Party,” he said.

“Senator Cox didn’t ask for anything, just asked for this to be considered,’’ he said.

Her defection will lower the minor party’s Senate representation to 10 members, but increase the government’s numbers to 29.

“We know that the Greens have lost their way,” Mr Albanese told the ABC.

“That’s one of the reasons why they lost three of their four seats in the House of Representatives, and the domination of issues that certainly aren’t environmental have been their concerns.

“I think having to sit in the Senate while the Greens blocked funding for public housing would grade against anyone who regards themselves as progressive.”