Lidia Thorpe suspended from Senate after stunt against Hanson

Lidia Thorpe has been sensationally suspended from the Senate after a stunt against Pauline Hanson.

It was a final act of defiance from Senator Lidia Thorpe to round off a year that also featured an expletive filled rant at the King of England.

After telling One Nation’s Pauline Hanson she was “a convicted racist”, Senator Thorpe marched out of the chamber.

But before she did Senator Thorpe resorted to the international sign language of flipping the bird, her final act captured by veteran photographer Mick Tsikas.

Senator Thorpe has been suspended from the Senate for the “disorderly conduct”.

Senate President Sue Lines confirmed the penalty on Wednesday night after formally “naming” her in the chamber. 

It followed chaotic scenes, where Senator Thorpe appeared to throw papers in the chamber.

Leader of the Government in the Senate Penny Wong then moved that Senator Thorpe be suspended on Thursday, the final sitting day of the year. 

Senator Lidia Thorpe has been suspended from the Senate. Picture: Martin Ollman/NewsWire

Thorpe walks out after throwing papers at One Nation leader Pauline Hanson in the Senate chamber at Parliament House. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Senator Thorpe was then photographed appearing to “flip the bird” as she departed the chamber on Wednesday. 

However, her clash with One Nation’s Pauline Hanson was the reason for the Senate suspension, which was backed by Labor and the Coalition. 

Only the Greens opposed the suspension which was also backed by Senator Hanson and independents Jacqui Lambie and David Pocock. 

The Senate president said she wrote to Thorpe at 4.30pm today, offering her a chance to attend the Senate to explain herself or apologise. 

However, Senator Lines indicated that Senator Thorpe chose not to attend the disciplinary meeting. 

‘Disgrace’: Parliament descends into chaos

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has been described as a “disgrace to the human race” in the Senate during chaotic scenes, which culminated in Senator Thorpe storming out and flipping the bird in the chamber.

In extraordinary scenes, the blow-up emerged after Senator Hanson sought to table documents she alleged went to the eligibility of Labor-turned-independent senator Fatima Payman to sit in the Senate.

Her accusation that Senator Payman was potentially in breach of Section 44 of the constitution prompted the following exchange.

“Senator Hanson has worn the burqa in this place, maybe it’s time that she pack her burqa, and go to Afghanistan, and talk to the Taliban about this,” Ms Payman said.

Ms Payman then accused Ms Hanson under parliamentary privilege of “racism”, before withdrawing the remarks.

“You’re not just vindictive, mean, nasty – you bring disgrace to the human race,” she said.

When Ms Hanson stood up to demand that the comments be withdrawn, Senator Thorpe then yelled across the chamber: “You’re a convicted racist!”

She was responding in part to Ms Hanson’s claim that Ms Payman’s documentation was “not good enough, it would not be good enough for anyone else here in this place”.

Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi recently claimed, successfully, to the victim of racial vilification by Ms Hanson in a civil – not criminal – case.

Ms Hanson is appealing that decision and her defence is expected to be lodged with the Federal Court as early as today.

Ms Hanson smiling as Ms Payman went after her in the Senate today. Picture: Martin Ollman/NewsWire

Ms Payman told parliament Ms Hanson had “no dignity whatsoever as a senator”.

“I am very honoured that I live rent free in Senator Hanson’s mind, but I think you’ve got better things to do than worry about Section 44,’’ she said.

Ms Payman then went on to recall some of Ms Hanson most famous speeches including her remarks that Australia was “in danger of being swamped by Asians”.

“If that is not racist, what is it?” she said as she addressed Ms Hanson directly.

“I kept on giving you the benefit of the doubt, Senator Hanson, despite your repetitive attempts to be racist to anyone who does not look like you,” Ms Payman said, before being forced to withdraw her remarks.

Ms Thorpe then theatrically tore up Ms Hanson’s motion in the chamber and threw it in her general direction.

“It’s another day in the colony, what can I say?” Ms Thorpe said.

“This absolutely disgusting behaviour. These people belong in this country, they are welcomed by my people.

“Why don’t you just bring back the White Australia policy and be done with it? I am sick of living in this racist country.”

Speaking at a press conference outside the chamber, Senator Thorpe said “this workplace is not safe for anyone who is not white”.

Ms Hanson has a chuckle. Picture: Martin Ollman/NewsWire

Ms Payman has held Australian citizenship since 2005. In addition, she still holds citizienship of Afghanistan, despite having attempted to renounce it in 2021.

As the Australian embassy did not have any formal communication set up with the Taliban-led Afghan government, it was determined Ms Payman had taken all reasonable steps required to renounce her foreign citizenship.

Ms Hanson has made multiple attempts to question Ms Payman’s citizenship, including writing to the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese.

Ms Payman herself has previously stressed that the issue had already investigated and Ms Hanson was “wasting our time talking about a matter that has no basis”.

“All that Senator Hanson does in this place is spread hatred, spread division, because that’s what that’s what you’re made to do here, and it’s outrageous,” she told the Senate.

Ms Hanson, for her part, is not backing down.

“If she’d been elected in 2016 instead of 2022, she would have been referred to the High Court like all the others,” she argued.

“If she’d been elected as a conservative in 2022, I suspect she’d be referred right away.

“Try as they might, however, they can’t wish this matter away. I’m not the only one in parliament questioning the surprising lack of documents in Payman’s disclosure supporting her claim she took reasonable steps to renounce her Afghan citizenship.”

- with NewsWire