A parliamentary hearing was interrupted by a pro-Palestinian protest from controversial independent senator Lidia Thorpe.
Senator Thorpe was attending the Senate Estimates hearing via video conference from her Melbourne office on Friday when a Palestinian protest flag was seen on shelves behind her.
The flag was engraved with the words “Free Palestine.”
Parliamentary rules state that attendees cannot bring “protest signs” or wear “clothing with political or protest slogans.”
As Palestine is not a recognized country, the flag was considered a “sign of protest” and “Free Palestine” a political statement.
As a result, Senator Thorpe was ordered to remove the sign or turn off her camera.
Although Senator Thorpe was in her own office, she was still considered to be attending the Senate hearing.
Senator Thorpe (pictured) was told to remove the flag or disable her camera when she addressed the hearing.
‘Did you want me to reorganize my office? Because I’m in my office and we need to liberate Palestine,” Senator Thorpe said.
Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee Chair Senator Louise Pratt warned Senator Thorpe.
“I need to inform Senator Thorpe that a point of order has been raised privately to me about…posters, protest signs and activist materials not being allowed on his screen,” Senator Pratt said.
“Senator Thorpe, it would be helpful if we could see you.”
Senator Thorpe was told to remove the flag or disable her camera when she addressed the hearing.
Senator Thorpe responded: ‘Did you want me to reorganize my office? Because I’m in my office and we need to liberate Palestine. A genocide is taking place.
Senator Pratt responded, “Thank you, Senator Thorpe,” before giving the floor to the next speaker.
When Senator Thorpe appeared, the flag was not visible.
Senator Thorpe is a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause.
Last month he addressed pro-Palestinian protesters who disrupted the Victorian state Labor conference at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne.
In October last year, Senator Thorpe arrived in the Senate chamber for his first day of session wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh.
The current Palestinian-Israeli conflict began when militants swept into southern Israel on October 7 last year, killing around 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and taking around 250 hostages.
More than 100 were freed during a ceasefire in November in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
Israel’s offensive in response to the attack has killed at least 36,096 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians.
Israel says it has killed 15,000 militants.
A ceasefire is still being negotiated.