Lidia Thorpe’s Parliament House Threat Sparks Fierce Backlash as AFP Launches Probe into Senator’s Incendiary Comments
- Senator Lidia Thorpe is under investigation by the Australian Federal Police for her comments at a pro-Palestine rally, where she said she would “burn down Parliament House” to make a point.
- Thorpe has been condemned by politicians from all sides, with One Nation senator Pauline Hanson labelling her comments “an act of treason and terrorism.”
- The AFP’s National Security Investigations team has begun a probe into whether Thorpe breached legislation with her comments, which she claims were “clearly a figure of speech.”
In a shocking turn of events, Senator Lidia Thorpe is facing a fierce backlash over her inflammatory comments at a pro-Palestine rally in Melbourne on Sunday. The Australian Federal Police have launched an investigation into the senator’s remarks, which sparked widespread outrage and condemnation from politicians across the spectrum.
Thorpe’s comments, which included a vow to “burn down Parliament House” to make a point, were met with gasps of horror from the crowd. Despite her subsequent claims that the remarks were “clearly a figure of speech,” the damage had already been done.
One Nation senator Pauline Hanson was quick to denounce Thorpe’s comments, labelling them “an act of treason and terrorism.” Hanson’s scathing attack on Thorpe was echoed by other politicians, including Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce and cabinet ministers Tony Burke and Tanya Plibersek.
AFP authorities have confirmed that the National Security Investigations team in Victoria began looking into Thorpe’s comments “almost immediately” after they were made. The probe will examine whether Thorpe breached legislation with her incendiary remarks.
Thorpe has since released a statement insisting that her comments were “obviously not a literal threat.” However, her attempts to downplay the controversy have done little to quell the outrage. Deputy Liberal leader Ted O’Brien described Thorpe’s comments as “absolutely appalling,” while Sunrise host Nat Barr demanded action from Labor minister Tanya Plibersek.
The controversy surrounding Thorpe’s comments has come at a sensitive time, with community tensions in Australia running high amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The release of Israeli hostages and the next stages of the ceasefire deal are being closely watched, and politicians on all sides are urging calm and restraint.
Thorpe’s remarks have sparked a heated debate about free speech and the limits of political rhetoric. While some have defended her right to express her opinions, others have condemned her comments as reckless and irresponsible.
As the AFP investigation into Thorpe’s comments continues, one thing is clear: the senator’s inflammatory remarks have ignited a firestorm of controversy that shows no signs of abating anytime soon.