Media Releases

‘Publicly apologise’: Thorpe Calls on Plibersek to correct misleading comments

November 26, 2025

Senator Lidia Thorpe has written to the Minister for Social Services, Tanya Plibersek, calling for a public apology after the Minister made inflammatory comments on Sky News that mischaracterised widely held concerns about Schedule 5 of the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical...

Thorpe to table expert letter opposing police power expansion

November 24, 2025

Senator Lidia Thorpe will today table a letter signed by more than 100 legal experts and community organisations, raising alarm about the Albanese Government’s plan to allow police and ministers to cut off people’s welfare payments based solely on suspicion.

Gunpoint apprehension of Aboriginal boy shows institutional police racism

November 20, 2025

Senator Lidia Thorpe has provided a response to a horrific incident last week in which a young Aboriginal boy was wrongfully apprehended at gunpoint by ACT police officers, pinned face down on the ground, and held with knees on his back, causing him pain...

PFAS Senate Inquiry Report Released – Thorpe calls for urgent action and full chemical ban

November 19, 2025

The Senate Select Committee on PFAS, chaired by Senator Lidia Thorpe, has today released its final report, after more than a year examining failures in the Australian Government’s approach to PFAS contamination and risk mitigation.

Bail report released but states refuse to act — Thorpe calls on Commonwealth to step up

November 14, 2025

Senator Lidia Thorpe has called on the Albanese government to use it's constitutional power to ensure the SCAG Bail and Remand Reform Working Group report is acted on, following its release today.

‘Come clean’: Attorneys-General must release suppressed national bail report

November 14, 2025

Senator Lidia Thorpe is calling on Attorney-General Michelle Rowland to immediately release the Standing Council of Attorneys-General (SCAG) Bail and Remand Reform Working Group report, completed in July but still being withheld from the public.

Thorpe calls for federal intervention on Allan government over harsh youth sentencing reforms

November 12, 2025

Senator Lidia Thorpe has strongly condemned the Allan government’s decision to introduce harsher custodial sentences for children.

‘Punishment before trial’: Thorpe calls on Senate to reject police powers buried in social security bill

November 03, 2025

Senator Lidia Thorpe will move an amendment to strike out Schedule 5 of the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment (Technical Changes No. 2) Bill 2025, after the Government quietly inserted a measure to expand police power into the social safety net.

Thorpe welcomes Treaty progress in Victoria, says Federal Government is now on notice

October 31, 2025

As Treaty legislation passes Victorian Parliament, Senator Lidia Thorpe has welcomed the historic milestone while calling for self-determination for all First Peoples, real action on ongoing harm, and a national Truth-telling process.

Environment laws must respect First Peoples

October 30, 2025

Senator Lidia Thorpe says Labor’s new environmental laws will fail Country without legally enforceable protections for First Peoples’ rights and cultural heritage, and a genuine climate trigger.