The Labor frontbencher Malarndirri McCarthy has accused Lidia Thorpe of using “reprehensible” language and making her feel “culturally unsafe” in the Senate after the independent senator referred to her as being a member of the “native police” in the government’s ranks.
Thorpe, an independent senator for Victoria, made the comments in the Senate on Monday in a speech about the policing of First Nations people and the incarceration of Indigenous children.
“We know increased punitive measures do nothing to address the underlying social issues, yet this so-called progressive Labor government have a few native police officers in their ranks,” Thorpe said.
“Your own Marion Scrymgour is making disgusting calls to treat our kids even more harshly, when they are already being openly hunted, locked up and tortured, and then Senator McCarthy is giving black money to the police dogs, adding to the billions of dollars being spent on this racist system every single year. Native police in your own ranks. Shame.”
Native police were specialised units of Indigenous troopers commanded by white colonial officers to police Indigenous communities in the 19th and into the 20th centuries. They often doled out brutal punishments and the use of native police had a devastating effect on Indigenous communities.
McCarthy, a senator for the Northern Territory, sought leave to make a personal statement in the Senate on Wednesday afternoon in order to address Thorpe’s comments, which she called “derogatory words designed to damage me personally and professionally”.
Some of McCarthy’s family members, including her uncle and her cousin, have served with the police.
“Comments by Senator Thorpe referring to me as ‘native police’ carry negative historic stereotypes to increase hatred towards me and by extension my family,” she told the Senate.
“I am very proud of my uncle, one of the longest serving police officers, liaison officers and police trackers in the Northern Territory and I am proud of his daughter who has followed in his footsteps. My family welcomed Senator Thorpe to Yanyuwa country and embraced her … The communication and dialogue in this Senate towards me and my families is reprehensible.
“Senator Thorpe’s use of ‘native police’, I view, as lateral violence. It makes me feel culturally unsafe in the Senate and with Senator Thorpe.
“I ask all senators to be respectful in debate. We each come with our lived experiences. There is no place for harmful language against one another.”
Thorpe has been a vocal critic of the government on Indigenous issues, particularly since the voice to parliament referendum, calling for further urgent action to implement the recommendations of the royal commission into Indigenous deaths in custody and the Bringing Them Home report on the forced removal of Aboriginal children.
Her speech on Monday included criticism of the government for not making further progress on the deaths in custody report.
The episode comes after an explosive end to Wednesday’s sitting of the Senate, involving Thorpe, which led to the Senate shutting down early.
Confusion about the procedure of the debate meant that several senators who had been waiting more than an hour to speak were prevented from doing so.
Thorpe had been prevented from delivering a speech on the death of Yorta Yorta and Gunnaikurnai man Joshua Kerr, who died while in remand at Victoria’s Port Phillip prison. She said the rules had not been observed and proceeded to read her speech, despite being told she could not, which led to the Senate adjourning early.
Thorpe’s office has been contacted for comment.
