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The federal police’s treatment of Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe at a protest outside Parliament House has been described as disturbing and worrying by Indigenous Australian Minister Linda Burney.
Video footage showed Senator Thorpe being grabbed by police and physically held to the ground after attempting to confront transgender rights activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull, aka Posie Parker, in front of House of Parliament.
Senator Thorpe, who called the activists’ words transphobic, joined a counter-protest.
The Australian Federal Police said their interactions were being reviewed and the incident was being referred to the police’s professional standards command.
Burney said the incident was concerning.
“I have seen the images and they are disturbing and worrying,” he told ABC Radio.
“My concern is for Lidia, I hope she is receiving the support she should receive, and I think the fact that she has been referred to the professional standards unit is absolutely appropriate.
“The real issue is making sure their well-being is okay.”
Anti-trans protests have been the subject of controversy after an event in Melbourne over the weekend drew men dressed in black who performed the Nazi salute.
Ms Keen-Minshull has denied any links to Nazism, saying the group had tried to hijack her event.
Attorney General Mark Dreyfus, who is seeking advice on the incident from federal police, said he had not yet received the information but was “concerned” about the incident.
–PAA
