Divisive Adam Bandt puts reconciliation in peril, Greens senator Lidia Thorpe ‘there to infiltrate colonial project’

Jacinta Price says the Governor-General should investigate if there are grounds to dismiss Lidia Thorpe after the Greens senator said parliament ‘doesn’t represent her or her people’.

Greens senator Lidia Thorpe has attracted criticism after she said she was in parliament to ‘infiltrate’ the ‘colonial project’. Picture: AAP

Anthony Albanese says the push for reconciliation risks being undermined by the refusal of Greens leader Adam Bandt to stand in front of the Australian flag.

The Prime Minister said every parliamentarian should be proud to stand in front of the national flag, urging Mr Bandt to “reconsider his position and work to promote unity and work to promote reconciliation”.

“Reconciliation is about bringing people together on the journey that we need to undertake.

“It is undermined if people look for division rather than look for unity,” Mr Albanese said.

The criticism of the Greens escalated further on Wednesday after the party’s First Nations spokeswoman, Lidia Thorpe, said she was only in the parliament to “infiltrate” the “colonial project”.

Some greens senators and MPs have refused to stand near the Australian flag and their argument appears to be that Australia is illegitimate but is that what they mean? Greens @SenatorThorpe explains. pic.twitter.com/Ww02RTFSH2

— The Project (@theprojecttv) June 21, 2022

Incoming Northern Territory Country Liberal Party senator Jacinta Price said Governor-General David Hurley should investigate whether there were grounds to dismiss Senator Thorpe from parliament. “I think she has nothing but contempt for the Australian people and she doesn’t respect the position she is in,” Ms Price said.

“I personally feel that the ­Governor-General should take a closer look at what her real ­intentions are and consider whether this is possible grounds for dismissal.

“She doesn’t see herself as an Australian, she doesn’t see herself as being represented by the Australian flag. Therefore she is not the right person to be in a position to represent the Australian people nor does it indicate she has Aus­tralia’s best interests at heart.”

Ms Price added that Senator Thorpe should “recognise the fact that she is in a very privileged position.”

Slamming Senator Thorpe as “childish” and “divisive,” she called on the Greens Senator to recognise her privilege.

“I think she shouldn’t be completely honest about her experience that she is of mixed heritage, like myself as well, and that she’s simply only recognised that side of her,” Ms Price told RN Breakfast.

She said Senator Thorpe and Greens leader Adam Bandt’s actions painted indigenous Australians as “helpless victims.”

Indigenous leader Warren Mundine said he was “flabbergasted” by Senator Thorpe’s comments.

“She is carrying on like she is in a five-year-old’s spy game,” Mr Mundine said.

“I just shake my head at these people. We have got so many problems with Indigenous communities … They have got to have jobs and businesses operating, and education.

“So is she there to blow the place up? It is just bizarre.”

Greens leader Adam Bandt has started a debate after refusing to be seen with the Australian flag. Greens @SenatorThorpe explains why she does too. pic.twitter.com/Xs5EqA1Ugd

— The Project (@theprojecttv) June 21, 2022

On Tuesday night, Senator Thorpe said both the flag and the parliament “does not represent me or my people”.

“It represents the colonisation of these lands. And it has no permission to be here. There’s been no consent,” Senator Thorpe told Network Ten’s The Project.

“I’m there to infiltrate.

“I signed up to become a senator in the colonial project and that wasn’t an easy decision for me personally, and it wasn’t an easy decision for my family either to support me in this. However, we need voices like this to question the illegitimate occupation of the colonial system in this country.”

Greens leader Adam Bandt has refused to stand near the Australian flag but do the Greens understand that it may be upsetting for some to see the flag relegated to the sideline? Greens @SenatorThorpe explains. pic.twitter.com/iGCWAl5E0B

— The Project (@theprojecttv) June 21, 2022

RSL Australia president Greg Melick said Mr Bandt’s action on the flag was disrespectful to ­Australian service personnel and veterans.

“The RSL condemns the ­actions of Mr Bandt in the strongest possible terms,” he said.

“Australians have served under our national flag, irrespective of their race, religion or political views, and it and all our present and past service personnel deserve the highest respect.

“Mr Bandt’s move was dis­respectful to all these people and the RSL rejects it as unfitting of a member of our national ­parliament.”

Labor Left senator Tim Ayres said Mr Bandt’s flag policy was “some of the most empty gesture politics”.

“University, Trotskyite-sort of politics,” Senator Ayres told the ABC.

“There ought to be a bit of growing up around the place and a bit of self-reflection is absolutely in order for Mr Bandt and his ­colleagues.”