Controversial Green Party Senator Lidia Thorpe sparked chaos at Wednesday night’s Midwinter Ball after she stormed through Parliament’s marble foyer and gave guests the middle finger.
Senator Thorpe, who was one of four Greens on the event’s guest list, raised her fist and middle finger and yelled about “fossil fools” before joining a protest outside.
The Green Senator was dressed in blue jeans and an Aboriginal flag t-shirt during their messy stunt and later attended an “Alternative Midwinter Ball” on the lawn of Extinction Rebellion’s Parliament.
The protest included “sad” music and dancing black ghosts and saw federal lawmakers attend.
Later, Senator Thorpe reappeared in the marble foyer and shouted, “Stop destroying the planet, criminals.”
Green Party Senator for Victoria Lidia Thorpe raises her fist during her swearing-in ceremony in the Senate Chamber of Parliament Buildings
Ms Thorpe sparked chaos at Wednesday night’s Midwinter Ball after storming through Parliament’s marble foyer and giving guests the middle finger
Senator Thorpe’s stunt was aided by fellow Green Party member Sarah Hanson-Young, who arrived in a long white dress with “End Gas and Coal” written on the back.
senator Jacqui Lambie expressed concern about the Green Senator’s stunt.
“She really pushed it, especially today with that stunt and in the Senate she might have to be a little careful,” she said.
Senator Thorpe’s leader, Green MP Adam Bandt, and his partner Claudia Perkins also caused a stir.
In the past, Mrs Perkins had “Coal Kills” shaved into her head while writing that slogan and also “Gas Kills” in black and red across her otherwise white dress on Wednesday night.
“I think given the climate crisis it’s really appalling that Labor is investigating 114 new gas projects and we wanted to get that across to as many people as possible at once,” she said.
While Senator Hanson-Young and Ms. Perkins used their garish presence to make policy statements, their peers joined in Jordon Steele-John and Larissa Waters both said they would not be attending the event.
“Today’s Midwinter Ball is another reminder of the perverse influence coal and gas have on our government, whoever runs it. I won’t be attending,” Senator Steele-John said.
“To see MPs in suits and glitter scurrying about at an event openly sponsored by Coal and Gas is frankly disgusting.
“Compared to the reality of the climate crisis in places like Pakistan, in places like Lismore, we see where the priorities of the political class are.”
Green Party leader Adam Bandt (left) is pictured with his partner Claudia Perkins, whose dress will be used as a billboard for her views on environmental policy
Sarah Hanson-Young arrives at the Midwinter Ball in a long white dress adorned with a call to end gas and coal.
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young’s floor-length dress also features environmental slogans when viewed from the front
Senator Dorinda Cox, Greens Leader Adam Bandt, partner Claudia Perkins and Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young are pictured at the Midwinter Ball in Canberra
Wednesday’s stunt was the latest from Senator Thorpe, who previously described the Queen as a “coloniser” when she was sworn in as Australia Senator last month.
Dressed all in black, the 48-year-old stalked the Senate floor in Canberra and mockingly recited her version of the Pledge of Allegiance to Her Majesty.
With her right fist in the air in a Black Power salute, she recited, “I, Sovereignty, Lidia Thorpe, solemnly and truly swear that I will be, and bear true allegiance to, the colonial power of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.”
When other senators voiced criticism, Labor Senate Speaker Sue Lines told the Green Party senator: “You have to recite the oath as it’s printed on the card. Please recite the oath.’
Senator Thorpe, who has Aboriginal and European ancestry, reluctantly repeated the oath as printed.
Amid the excitement, another senator was heard saying, “None of us like it.”
She was immediately condemned by other politicians and received widespread criticism from Australians.
One described her as “Angela Davis wannabe” – a nod to the leader of America’s Black Power – and berated her “imprudent and infantile approach to bridging the gap” between Caucasians and Indigenous peoples.
Social media critics called Senator Thorpe an embarrassment.
But Senator Thorpe tweeted that indigenous peoples – who lived in Australia before the British arrived – never surrendered to the colonialists.
“Sovereignty is never relinquished,” she wrote.
