“Voters have resoundingly rejected the Coalition. Labor now has the power — and the responsibility — to deliver real change. No more excuses.

For three years, Labor claimed they couldn’t act without Peter Dutton’s support. That was always cowardly — and now it’s completely untenable.

Albanese has spent too long letting himself be held captive by the Coalition and the Sky News rabble.

Time and again we saw Labor avoid progressive reforms — from Truth-Telling, to anti-discrimination laws, and even urgent environmental reform — claiming these needed bipartisan support, despite Labor having the numbers.

One of their most shameful capitulations was legislating mandatory minimum sentencing to appease Dutton — in direct violation of their own platform.

And they’ve been just as cowardly on Gaza — refusing to condemn Netanyahu’s war crimes or end Australia’s complicity in the genocide. That must change.

Albanese now needs to grow a backbone and tackle the hard issues."

Senator Thorpe said the Minister for Indigenous Australians must move beyond platitudes:

“The Minister says Labor is ‘ambitious’ for First Peoples. Well now is the time to move beyond meaningless platitudes – ambition means nothing without real action.

Under Labor, more of our people have been jailed. More of our children have been criminalised. More of our babies have been stolen. Labor has been widening the gap it so loudly proclaims to want to close.

If the Minister wants to see real change, then we need strong national action. Set standards. Lead by example. Hold the states accountable. Get serious.

Marion Scrymgour has been out there calling for Labor to revisit Truth and Treaty, convene a national cabinet meeting on youth justice, empower Native Title holders to veto developments, and stop funnelling First Peoples’ funding to white organisations.

I have been calling for action in these areas for years — and am open to work with the government on progressing these issues. This can’t just be pre-election talk to win mob votes. It’s time to do the work. 

Labor needs to stop using First Peoples as a political football for their own gain. Words won’t deliver justice. First Peoples want real action.”

Senator Thorpe’s priorities in this Parliament include:

• Ending Australia’s complicity in genocide abroad while upholding human rights at home
  
• A federal Human Rights Act
  
• Implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, including the right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent
  
• Full implementation of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody and the Bringing Them Home Report recommendations
  
• A real, funded commitment to Truth and Treaty
  
• Ending the destruction of Country and water, including through PFAS chemicals and fossil fuels
  
• Ensuring everyone has access to housing, food, clean water, education and healthcare — these are rights, not luxuries
  
• Setting standards on the states and territories around human rights abuses in the criminal legal system; justice reinvestment and therapeutic bail programs led by First Nations communities
  
• Reform of racist, oppressive laws, including the Racial Discrimination Act
  
• Adequate funding of Aboriginal legal and health services
  
• An inquiry into the Red Lines Package, to stop Australia’s complicity in genocide abroad

“This new Parliament must mark the end of excuses. We have a progressive Senate ready to get to work — if Labor has the guts.

I’m here to fight for justice — for First Peoples, for refugees, for people in prisons, for those trapped in poverty, for Palestinians — for everyone this government has left behind. It’s time for action and justice.

The fight continues. I’m here to raise the voices of our people, our survivors, and our movement. Labor should know — we’re watching, and we won’t be ignored.”