Lidia Thorpe, deputy leader of the left-wing Australian Greens party has resigned from her position—but remains a senator—after revelations emerged of a relationship with the ex-leader of an outlaw motorcycle gang, which occurred at the same time she sat on a parliamentary committee investigating the criminal gangs.
The joint-parliamentary committee on law enforcement she was apart of also had access to classified documents on gangs.
The Australian government and law enforcement have branded the Rebel bikie gang a criminal organisation with members convicted of murder and the trafficking of illegal drugs and firearms.
Martin has no criminal convictions but had a 25-year-plus association with the Rebels before stepping down as Victorian chapter president in 2018.
Thorpe failed to disclose her relationship with Greens leader Adam Bandt despite concerns from staff that a possible conflict of interest existed, according to media reports.
Bandt said he wasn’t aware of the matters until the media raised them and that he had asked Thorpe to quit her role as deputy leader and had received a resignation.
“As a leader, I expect my senators and MPs, especially those in leadership positions, to exercise good judgement,” he said in a statement on Thursday.
“At a minimum, Senator Thorpe needed to disclose to me her connection to Mr Martin, and her failure to do so showed a significant lack of judgement.”
“Senator Thorpe says she understands this, so now I expect her to demonstrate better judgement going forward and in exercising her continuing portfolio responsibilities.”
Bandt added that Thorpe had not held the justice portfolio since the election and that, at the moment, there is no suggestion that any confidences have been breached.
Thorpe Admits Mistakes
Thorpe said in a statement that she accepted that she had “made mistakes” and had not “exercised good judgement.”She added she would reflect on this and focus on her portfolio work, especially advocating for Aboriginal people.
She previously told ABC that confidental briefings on bikie gangs were treated in confidence and argued that Martin’s history was a “past connection.”
“Obviously, I’m concerned about the criminal activities of outlaw motorcycle clubs in general. But when we met, Mr Martin was no longer involved with that world.”
‘Hypocritical’
The scandal has attracted criticism from political opponents, including Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor, who criticised the Greens for being “hypocritical.”“The Greens have always been keen to lecture us on integrity. But you know that they would be hypocritical if they didn’t take appropriate action,” Taylor said, The Australian reported.
“They talk a big game on avoiding conflicts of interest. And when it comes to action, it seems that this is exactly the opposite of their rhetoric.”
The Greens are vocal supporters of a federal Independent Commission Against Corruption, which they said would “clean up politics” and “finally hold politicians to account.”
Bernie Finn, Victorian leader of the Democratic Labour Party, said in a Facebook post: “If anyone else had done what Lidia Thorpe is guilty of, they'd be tarred, feathered and run out of town. If they are fair dinkum about equality, the Greens should sack her from the Senate immediately!”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has strenuously criticised the Greens Party, saying that while Thorpe declared the failure to declare her relationship “an error of judgement,” it was the “least description that I would put to it.”
“Adam Bandt has to explain what his office knew and what he knew and why he wasn’t informed about these issues given his office was informed, why that is the case,” the prime minister said.
