She has also moved an amendment to rename the Electoral reform legislation the ‘Sham Democracy Bill’, saying the legislation is designed to cement the influence of the two major parties and keep independent and small parties out of parliament. 

Quotes attributable to Lidia Thorpe, Gunnai, Gunditjmara and Djab Wurrung independent Victorian Senator:

HATE CRIMES BILL

"I will be opposing this bill in this form, because I will not support any bill that would create mandatory minimum sentences.

"It’s critical that this country tackles racism and hate. This bill could have been an opportunity to take a step in the right direction. But instead of working with the crossbench, Labor has teamed up with the Coalition to ram through unjust legislation that goes against best evidence. 

"Mandatory minimum sentences don’t reduce crime, they undermine the independence and discretion of the judiciary, and lead to unjust, discriminatory outcomes. This is what the Labor party platform itself says.

"Labor continues to listen to Peter Dutton instead of Labor members and the expert evidence. This is another shameful instance of Labor betraying their member base and lurching to the right. 

"These parties pretend to be on opposite sides, but when it comes to expanding surveillance and criminalization, including of kids as young as 10, they are in lockstep.

"Anti-semitism is a form of racism. The anti-discrimation laws and the Race Discrimination Act are not fit for purpose and require urgent review. We must join every other democracy in the world and legislate an enforceable National Human Rights Act."

ELECTORAL REFORM BILL

"These so-called electoral reforms are a stitch-up by the major parties to cement their undue influence. That's why I have put in an amendment to rename the legislation the ‘Sham-Democracy Bill’.

"Labor went to the last election promising electoral reforms and giving voters hope that the influence of corporations and dodgy donors would be over.

"But this bill spits in the face of voters. It is all about cementing the major party duopoly, and keeping independents and smaller parties out. 

"We need to break up the duopoly. We don’t need more major party career politicians with wealthy donor mates making all the decisions. 

"The country will get much better outcomes when we have more independents and minor parties in parliament to keep governments accountable.

"We need more regular people that understand and work hard for their communities. We need more First Peoples, as well as people from different backgrounds.

"But sadly, this bill is all about preventing that, and keeping the white-bloke-dominated major parties in control. 

"The government is also refusing to put this bill through an inquiry process, which is standard parliamentary procedure. 

"This should be an absolute necessity for a bill that will literally change electoral and policy outcomes for everyone in this country."