In a surprising development in Australian politics, Senator Lidia Thorpe has publicly apologized to One Nation leader Pauline Hanson for mistakenly describing her as a “convicted” racist. The apology comes after Hanson threatened to sue Thorpe for defamation over her comments made during an interview with Channel Nine’s Today show.
Mistaking Civil Finding for Criminal Conviction
During the interview, Thorpe referred to Hanson as a “convicted racist,” citing a federal court finding that Hanson had breached the Racial Discrimination Act. However, Thorpe later clarified that she was mistaken in using the term “convicted,” as the court’s ruling was a civil finding of racial discrimination, not a criminal conviction.
To clarify, I was mistaken that she was ‘convicted’ because it was a civil case.
Senator Lidia Thorpe, via Twitter
Federal Court Ruling on Racial Discrimination
The federal court found in November that Hanson had engaged in racial discrimination against Greens deputy leader Mehreen Faruqi. Justice Angus Stewart ruled that Hanson’s comment telling Faruqi to “pack your bags and piss off back to Pakistan” was a “variant of the slogan ‘go back to from where you came from’,” which he described as a “racist trope” and a “strong form of racism.” Hanson is currently appealing the finding.
Thorpe’s Apology and Clarification
In response to the defamation threat, Thorpe took to social media to clarify her comments and apologize to Hanson. She posted on X (formerly Twitter):
Sorry about that Pauline!
Senator Lidia Thorpe, via Twitter
Thorpe further explained that her comments about Hanson last week referred to the federal court ruling that found Hanson had racially vilified a senator, contravened the Racial Discrimination Act, and exhibited a strong form of racism.
Suspension from Senate
The heated exchange between Thorpe and Hanson comes on the heels of Thorpe’s suspension from the Senate last Wednesday for making “inappropriate and sometimes abusive comments.” The suspension occurred after Thorpe appeared to throw paper at Hanson during a tense parliamentary debate.
The debate was sparked by Hanson’s unsuccessful attempt to have former Labor senator Fatima Payman investigated for an alleged section 44 citizenship issue. Hanson had claimed that Payman had not provided sufficient documentation to prove she had revoked her Afghan citizenship, which would make her ineligible to sit in parliament.
Ongoing Tension and Controversy
The recent clash between Thorpe and Hanson highlights the ongoing tension and controversy surrounding issues of racism, discrimination, and eligibility in Australian politics. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the public and political sphere will react to Thorpe’s apology and clarification, as well as the outcome of Hanson’s appeal against the federal court’s racial discrimination finding.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of accurate and precise language when discussing sensitive topics such as racism and discrimination. It also underscores the need for politicians to engage in respectful and constructive dialogue, even in the face of heated disagreements and personal attacks.
As the nation watches this latest development in the ongoing saga of racial politics in Australia, it is crucial that all parties involved work towards fostering a more inclusive, respectful, and equitable political landscape. Only through open and honest communication, coupled with a commitment to addressing the root causes of racism and discrimination, can Australia hope to move forward as a united and harmonious society.
