‘Silence me’: Lidia’s claim after Senate suspension

Protesters have gathered outside Parliament House after Lidia Thorpe was suspended from the Senate ahead of her genocide bill being debated.

Hundreds of indigenous rights activists are rallying on the lawns of Parliament House after Lidia Thorpe was suspended from the Senate for the remainder of the sitting year.

The Greens-turned-independent senator originally organised Thursday’s rally in support of her Genocide Bill, which was set to be debated on the final sitting day of the year.

Speaking to the gathered crowd, she said it was “no coincidence” her suspension clashed with the Bill’s expected debate, and claimed it was a move made to “silence” her.

The Bill will no longer be debated today, as the government races to pass a large amount of its own legislation before Parliament ends for the year.

Protesters waved placards accusing the government of committing genocide against Indigenous Australians and being complicit in genocide in Gaza.

Children posed in front of a mock-roadworks sign displayed by Senator Thorpe that read “Genocide in progress”.

Hundreds of indigenous rights activists are rallying on the lawns of Parliament House after Lidia Thorpe was suspended from the Senate for the remainder of the sitting year. Picture: NewsWire/ Martin Ollman

Protesters waved placards accusing the government of committing genocide against Indigenous Australians. Picture: NewsWire/ Martin Ollman

Ahead of the demonstration, the independent Senator said the government had deliberately suspended her to dodge debate of her Bill in the Senate, which has been racing against the clock to muddle its way through dozens of pieces of legislation.

“It’s no coincidence that Labor suspended me from parliament today,” she said.

“This government and the opposition have done all they can to avoid accountability when it comes to justice for First Peoples here and around the world.

“They do all they can to silence me and those who call out genocide and injustice, and they do all they can to avoid accountability for their complicity.”

Independent senator Lidia Thorpe has attended a rally with her supporters outside Parliament House. Picture: NewsWire/ Martin Ollman

Children posed in front of a sign that read ‘Genocide in progress’ displayed by Senator Thorpe. Picture: NewsWire/ Martin Ollman

It’s no coincidence that this government chose today to suspend me from the Senate.

My private senators bill on genocide was due to be debated.

Labor have done all they can to shut down this bill and silence those who call out genocide and injustice.

We will not be silent.

— Senator Lidia Thorpe (@SenatorThorpe) November 27, 2024

Police watched the mass outside Parliament House hawkishly.

Meanwhile, inside the nation’s legislature, security was beefed up around the Upper House after Senator Thorpe earlier stormed into the Press Gallery and shouted at her colleagues.

The Senate voted on Wednesday to suspend Senator Thorpe after she ripped up a motion by Pauline Hanson and threw it at her.

Senator Hanson was questioning rogue Labor senator Fatima Payman’s eligibility to sit in the Upper House.

The incident was the latest in a series of actions that most parliamentarians on all sides of politics have condemned as undermining parliament.