Australian politics: Lydia Thorpe accused of making elderly woman cry at Canberra airport
Lydia Thorpe was accused of causing an Aboriginal elder to cry while she was waiting for her flight.
The outspoken independent senator allegedly heckled Uluru Dialogue co-chair Aunty Pat Anderson AO at Canberra airport last week, after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the wording of the parliament’s vote referendum.
Voice Queensland advocate Merv Aubrey shared details of the altercation in a Facebook post, claiming that Aunt Pat was actually upset at being told her ticket was not valid for her flight, amid delays.
Mrs. Thorpe came up to her and said, “My Aunt Pat, a woman of 79, is evidently upset and frustrated. We’ve all put to one side to sort out our tickets… Then we hear a voice behind us shouting ‘Where’s ya (sic) voice now?’ Is that why you need your voice?”
It was Lydia Thorpe…Aunt Lucy turned around and said, ‘Is that necessary? You can see that my aunt is upset, come on she is a sheikha.”
Lydia says “Where is a sheikh, I don’t see a sheikh, it’s not my sheikh”. “
An Aboriginal elder comforts my aunt Pat Anderson AO at Canberra airport following the alleged encounter with Lydia Thorpe
Ms. Anderson AO sips some water after the alleged encounter (left). At right, Senator Thorpe is seen outside Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday
A third person present during the exchange allegedly asked Thorpe if she was ‘serious’ in saying ‘Aunt Pat isn’t old’, at which Aunt Pat became even more annoyed, admonishing Thorpe and calling her ‘really classy’.
‘Aunt Pat was particularly upset about the constant lateness,’ said Aubrey, ‘but she was more upset that Lydia made fun of her in that situation and then disrespected her.
“We sat with my aunt and calmed her down and made sure that she was big in us and that she was loved by us and many.”
Aubrey hoped that by raising awareness of the altercation, there would be more consideration as to the divisiveness that The Voice’s Yes and No campaigns would cause.
to my people, The Yes/No campaign is going to get ugly but we must adhere to our cultural protocol that is common to all our countries and this is out of respect for our elders.
“We as a younger generation are supposed to take care of our elders and not bully them.”
Thorpe did not offer her support for The Voice and questioned how beneficial it would actually be to First Nations people.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms Thorpe’s office for comment on the allegations.
In an emotional news conference last Thursday, Mr Albanese choked back tears when he revealed the wording of the referendum on the parliament’s vote.
In the referendum, due to take place between October and December, the public will be asked to consider: ‘A proposed law: to change the Constitution to recognize First Peoples in Australia by creating an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice. Do you agree with this proposed amendment?
Mr Albanese tore five separate times as he said: “This moment has been a long, long time in the making. It’s a simple matter of the heart.”
“Recognizing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians in our Constitution is the best opportunity this country has had to address past grievances and take Australia forward for all, and the best way to do that is to give people a voice.”
For 122 years, the Constitution has made no reference to the indigenous people of the continent to whom the prime minister noted “over 65,000 years of uninterrupted association with this vast land”.
Anthony Albanese appeared to be on the verge of tears several times during his announcement
First Nations Referendum Working Group member Dr Marcia Langton was emotional when she heard Anthony Albanese
Mr Albanese brought 18 other people to the podium for his announcement, his lip trembling as he made eye contact with Dr Marcia Langton, who was wiping away tears as the prime minister spoke.
“I consider it a great honor to stand with the giants of Australia,” said Mr Albanese. I don’t know if I have their experience in life if I can be so generous and humble in my request. I’d like to think I would be, but you can’t stand in other people’s shoes.
This is a humble request. I say to Australia. Do not miss it. This is a real opportunity.
However, polls have indicated that Australians are very divided on whether to support the referendum, and there is some opposition even among the Indigenous community.
Some critics worried that the scope of the vote’s influence on government policy could go too far, while others felt that it was a good gesture that would do nothing to help or compensate Aboriginal people.
Among them was Thorpe. Shortly after Mr. Albanese’s emotional display, she tweeted “Cry me a river,” along with a vomit emoji.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms Thorpe’s office for comment.
When Mr. Albanese and his entourage left the audio press conference, Labor greeted them with roaring applause.