Dutton prepared to set proposed watchdog on embattled Greens senator
Peter Dutton says he will refer Greens senator Lidia Thorpe to the proposed national anti-corruption commission after she failed to disclose her relationship with a former bikie boss while she was sitting on a law enforcement committee.
Peter Dutton says he will refer Greens senator Lidia Thorpe to the proposed national anti-corruption commission after she failed to disclose her relationship with a former bikie boss while she was sitting on a law enforcement committee.
Joint parliamentary law enforcement committee chairwoman Helen Polley will receive briefings on Monday from the secretariat to ascertain whether confidences were breached by Senator Thorpe over a relationship with former Rebels Victorian president Dean Martin.
An investigation has begun to examine all previous minutes in meetings when the Australian Federal Police gave confidential briefings that had a “broad approach” to organised crime and motorcycle gangs.
The secretariat will flag meetings the AFP and Senator Thorpe attended, and when she was present during AFP briefings on organised crime and bikie gangs.
The Opposition Leader on Sunday said he would be “very happy” to report Senator Thorpe to the NACC, as he ramped up calls for her to resign from parliament. “I think it’s a very serious issue,” he said. “I’ve just seen nothing like it in my 20 years in parliament.
“As the police have pointed out, as the intelligence agencies have pointed out consistently over a long period of time, bikies are the biggest importers of illicit drugs into our country.
“They’re involved in all sorts of criminal activity.”
Mr Dutton said the revelations highlighted the “radical social agenda” within the Greens, attacking Greens leader Adam Bandt over his decision to allow Senator Thorpe to retain the Indigenous affairs portfolio.
Senator Thorpe has provided assurances she never attended a clubroom when she “briefly dated” Mr Martin, and he was “no longer involved with that world” when they were together.
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