Independent senator Lidia Thorpe has announced her retirement from politics, saying she has no plans to recontest the upper house seat when her term expires in 2028.
“I don’t intend on running again, definitely not,” the Victorian senator told Nine’s 60 Minutes program.
“I’m 50 next month… I don’t want to become an old crusty politician with old daggy ideas. We need new people coming in with fresh ideas.”
Thorpe joined the Senate in 2020, becoming the first Aboriginal senator for Victoria. She was also The Greens’ first federal Aboriginal representative, replacing the former Greens leader Richard Di Natale, following his retirement.
After about two years, Thorpe resigned as Greens’ deputy leader in the Senate, following reports that she didn’t disclose a past relationship with a former bikie boss while serving on a law enforcement committee. She later quit The Greens altogether, moving to the crossbench as an Independent to pursue what she called a ‘Blak sovereign movement’. As the debate surrounding the Indigenous Voice to Parliament picked up, Thorpe made it clear she stood against the reform, instead calling for a treaty.
She’s been a vocal advocate for the ‘No’ vote ahead of the Indigenous Voice referendum, set to take place later this year. Thorpe argues the body would not effectively address issues impacting Indigenous people.
Also this year, Thorpe used a parliamentary address to accuse fellow senator David Van of sexual harassment. She later withdrew the comments, citing the need to comply with parliamentary rules. Following Thorpes accusations, former Liberal senator Amanda Stoker accused senator Van of sexual harassment as well. Van, who has denied the allegations, resigned from the Liberal Party to go to the crossbench.