Lidia Thorpe has accused the Greens of bullying and the LNP and ALP of sexual assault

Independent senator Lidia Thorpe has accused members of the Liberal and Labor Party of sexual assault and her own former party of bullying.

Independent senator Lidia Thorpe. Picture: AAP

Independent senator Lidia Thorpe has accused members of the Liberal and Labor Party of sexual assault and her own former party of bullying as she claims the behaviour is still occurring.

Senator Thorpe said as an independent she felt free to speak on the allegations that have been put to the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service, an independent and confidential service for people who work in the federal parliamentary workplace.

“I just wanted to clear the record that, you know, it has been a very hard time for me in this place. I was sexually assaulted four times in my first six months,” Senator Thorpe told the ABC.

“People wonder why I get a little bit frustrated, but I’ve had to endure so much in my time in this place and that’s why I say it is a toxic workplace … I want people out there to know that it has been the most traumatic two years in this place, due to bad behaviours of politicians.”

She confirmed allegations of sexual assault did not involve members of the Greens but parliamentarians in the Liberal and Labor parties.

The Victorian senator resigned as the Greens’ First Nations spokeswoman last month and said her opposing view on the proposed voice to parliament – which her former party supports – was not the sole reason she quit but that she was undermined by her colleagues. “I was patted on the head in the chamber by a Greens senator and I was completely demoralised … I’ve never been patted on the head by anybody and I’m not nobody’s little black girl and that’s how I felt.”

Following her resignation in February, the Aboriginal senator said she had “gotten over” having to work alongside members of parliament who she claims bullied and sexually assaulted her.

“Well, I didn’t want any action taken,” she said. “I mean, the Jenkins Review is meant to eradicate all of those kinds of behaviours, and I just have, I have faith in that review and my participation in that review.”

The office of Greens leader Adam Bandt confirmed he was aware of the complaints but did not consider her claims as bullying. Senator Thorpe said she still had “a lot of respect” for him.

“I think he’s a great leader of the Greens,” she said. “It was – it has been very difficult for everybody. I thought by resigning it would actually free the Greens up to deal with their own business, rather than me try and fix the Greens within.”

When The Australian put the claims to the Prime Minister’s office, a government spokesman said: “assault or harassment in any workplace is unacceptable and where allegations are made, they should be taken seriously”.

“The Parliamentary Workplace Support Service has been set up to support people affected by serious incidents or misconduct and is available to provide support to Senator Thorpe if she requires it.”