Lidia Thorpe Exits Senate Hearing After Accusing Government of Genocide Against Indigenous Australians
Lidia Thorpe storms out of fiery estimates hearing after row over the Voice referendum and accusing the Albanese government of 'genocide'
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Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe left a Senate Estimates hearing in anger after accusing the Albanese government of committing 'genocide' against Indigenous Australians. Her comments coincided with National Sorry Day and criticized the government's handling of Indigenous child welfare and the recent failed Voice to Parliament referendum.
- 01Thorpe accused the Albanese government of overseeing 'genocide' regarding Indigenous child welfare, citing 24,000 Indigenous children in out-of-home care.
- 02She referenced the 1997 Bringing Them Home report, which found that the removal of Indigenous children could amount to genocide under international law.
- 03Thorpe criticized the failed 2023 Voice to Parliament referendum, which saw only 40% support, labeling it a waste of $411 million.
- 04Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy defended the referendum and highlighted the importance of the process despite its failure.
- 05The clash escalated with Thorpe accusing McCarthy of 'doing the job of the coloniser,' prompting her to leave the hearing.
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Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe stormed out of a Senate Estimates hearing after a heated exchange with government officials, accusing them of committing 'genocide' against Indigenous Australians. Her outburst coincided with National Sorry Day, a day dedicated to acknowledging the Stolen Generations. Thorpe highlighted the alarming statistic of 24,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children currently in out-of-home care, referencing the 1997 Bringing Them Home report that classified such actions as potentially genocidal under international law. She criticized the Albanese government for failing to take accountability and for the recent defeat of the Voice to Parliament referendum, which she deemed a costly mistake. Thorpe's comments were met with pushback from Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy, who defended the referendum process and called for dignity in the discussion. The confrontation escalated, leading Thorpe to leave the hearing in frustration, emphasizing her demand for action over words regarding Indigenous issues.
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The clash highlights ongoing tensions regarding Indigenous rights and welfare in Australia, particularly around child protection and representation.
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