Lidia Thorpe, with tears in her eyes, is backtracking on her admission that she was dating a ‘bikie’ – claiming the pair only shared ‘one kiss’ during the Invasion Day protest
- Lidia Thorpe goes back on dating bikie
- She claimed they only shared “one kiss.”
- “I had no relationship with that person”
Victorian Senator Lidia Thorpe says she was torn by the media and forced to admit she was dating a former bikie when the pair shared just one kiss.
The former senator from the Greens, now an independent, was referred to the Senate Privileges Committee over allegations that she failed to disclose a relationship with a former bikie despite serving on a parliamentary law enforcement committee.
Senator Thorpe said she actually had no relationship with the ex-president of the rebel gang in Victoria, Dean Martin, but was told by Green’s legal advisers that they were dating.
She previously said it was a mistake not to disclose the relationship, but changed her tune on Tuesday.
“I had no relationship with that person. I got legal advice from the Greens’ lawyer to say that I had dated this person,” she told the Senate.
Victorian Senator Thorpe (pictured) said she actually had no relationship with the ex-bikie, but was told by Greens’ legal advisers that they were dating
“We kissed once at a meeting on January 26. I had no idea who this person was or what his background was’ (Photo: Senator Thorpe with the ex-president of Victoria’s rebel gang, Dean Martin)
“I got a call from that person who said, ‘Ah, are we meeting?’
“We kissed once at a meeting on January 26. I had no idea who this person was or what his background was.’
The Committee on Privileges investigated whether Senator Thorpe’s alleged secrecy interfered with the Committee’s work or whether she had received confidential briefings related to cycling.
It found that while Senator Thorpe should have disclosed her relationship, she did not receive any relevant sensitive information and therefore should not be held in contempt.
A tearful Senator Thorpe said the committee’s recommendation not to despise her justified her.
“You all thought I ran off with some biker gang,” she said.
‘What kind of person do you think I am? I deserve an apology, including from the leader of the Greens, for losing my position.”
AAP has reached out to Greens leader Adam Bandt for comment.
Senator Thorpe resigned from her leadership role in the party after the story hit the media.
Former Rebel Club President Dean Martin (pictured) kissed the Senator during an Invasion Day protest
Senator Thorpe (pictured) resigned from her leadership role in the party after the story hit the media
Senator Thorpe (pictured with friends) said she referred herself to committee because she knew she had done nothing wrong
‘For what? For an invasion day kiss with some black guy at a rally who happened to be an ex-motorcycle driver,” she said.
“I didn’t ask for his resume.”
Senator Thorpe said she referred herself to committee because she knew she had done nothing wrong.
“But my family and my community were hurt by the racism,” she said.
“I was torn apart by the media, I was torn apart by all of you in (the Senate) for something I didn’t do.”
The Privileges Committee has recommended that declarations of conflict of interest should be consistently addressed when committees meet to avoid future problems.
