Lidia Thorpe in senate estimates row with Indigenous minister Malarndirri McCarthy: ‘You’re a disgrace to your people’
Indigenous Senator Lidia Thorpe has stormed out of senate estimates after a shouting match with Labor MP Malarndirri McCarthy | WATCH
Lidia Thorpe has stormed out of a Senate estimates hearing after a shouting match with Labor MP Malarndirri McCarthy, who told the Greens-turned-independent senator: “You are a disgrace to your people.”
Senator Thorpe and Senator McCarthy were yelling across each other during an exchange about $14.2m for community safety initiatives in the Northern Territory. After Senator Thorpe had established the money went to police, she shouted at Senator McCarthy: “How dare you?”
The heated exchange happened after Senator Thorpe began questioning a senior public servant from the National Indigenous Australians Agency about whether any of its budget was given to NT police. She could be heard sighing heavily as the public servant began to speak about funding arrangements then she interrupted him, saying: “Has the Northern Territory police received black money? Yes or no?”
“I don’t want to know what they’re going to use it for. Last time I asked these questions in estimates, you know what our money went to? A dog squad in the NT chasing our babies and in Western Australia our money paid for a new police station,” Senator Thorpe said.
The senior public servant replied that NIAA had given money for improvements in safety in communities in the NT.
Senator Thorpe said: “So community safety as in the community being safe from police? Or which way?” and “How much are you paying the Northern Territory police from black money?”
Senator Thorpe repeatedly asked “how much” before a second public servant read from budget papers and said: “Senator in the most recent announcements, $14.2m was provided for high visibility police and law enforcement operations. This includes targetting grog running, increasing the liquor licensing compliance and boosting security guards in public places. There was $10m for justice reinvestment initiatives in central Australia”
At his point, Senator Thorpe interjected, saying: “Disgusting.”
“I am so violated from that answer, I am so disgusted. When the NT police get $14m when our youth services are struggling,” Senator Thorpe said.
She then turned to Senator McCarthy and said: “How can you let this happen, Senator McCarthy?”
The assistant minister said the government had given $25m for youth services and, pointing at Senator Thorpe, she said: “How dare you when we have First Nations people working in the police force?”
Senator Thorpe: “Are you protecting the police?”
Senator McCarthy: “No, I am telling you we have First Nations police who are doing their best to improve the situation.”
Senator Thorpe: “Police are police. Doesn’t matter what colour they are.”
Greens senator Dorinda Cox, a Yamatji Noongar woman and former police officer, and a member of the finance and public administration legislation committee where the exchange took place, was not in the room at the time.
Senator McCarthy and Senator Thorpe then began talking over each other at high volume.
Senator McCarthy could be heard to say to Senator Thorpe: “You are the disgrace. Rubbishing everyone for your agenda … You are a disgrace to your people.”
Senator McCarthy later withdrew her remarks and Senator Thorpe also withdrew the words “How dare you?”
Then Senator Thorpe left abruptly while talking in a sharp tone. She said in an apparent reference to Senator McCarthy: “Been in power too long”.
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