During an anti-trans-rights rally outside of the Australian Parliament, Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe was pulled to the ground by a police officer after attempting to interrupt campaigner Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull. Senator Thorpe, draped in the Aboriginal flag, had crossed the street and attempted to enter under the marquee where Ms Keen-Minshull was speaking to a small group of protesters huddled in the rain. She could be heard shouting “you are not welcome” before being pushed back by a man in a suit and subsequently pulled to the ground by a police officer. Video footage showed officers initially attempting to help Senator Thorpe back on her feet until she crawled away from the crowd and then stood up to join pro-LGBTQ counter-protesters a short distance away.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) have stated that the incident will be reviewed by their professional standards unit. In a statement, the AFP said that “Given a matter is now under investigation, no further comments will be made.” Speaking to reporters shortly after the incident, Senator Thorpe said Australia should be “ashamed” that it had let Ms Keen-Minshull into the country. She added that she had been assaulted by police that day.
The rally against trans rights had drawn attention after a similar protest in Melbourne was attended by neo-Nazis. After state Liberal MP Moira Deeming participated in the rally, the Victorian Liberal leader vowed to have her expelled. Federal politicians were drawn in when Liberal MP Sarah Henderson intervened in an attempt to save her party colleague. However, today’s rally in Canberra had so far failed to draw more than a handful of supporters, as well as a crowd of pro-LGBT people who had attended to protest against the rally and outnumbered them.
Senator Thorpe’s actions highlight the importance of protecting trans rights and standing up against hate speech. Trans rights have been a contentious issue in Australia, with many campaigns opposing their basic rights. While rallies outside parliament are common, incidents such as this one highlight the need for greater respect for human rights and the importance of protecting marginalized communities. The incident has also brought attention to the need for police accountability and professionalism in their handling of such situations.
Inside parliament, the focus has been on the government’s final position on the wording of the referendum on whether to enshrine an Indigenous Voice to Parliament in the constitution. While Indigenous rights are crucial, so too are the rights of the LGBTQ community. It is vital that Australia works towards greater inclusivity and equality for all its citizens, regardless of their background or identity. The incident involving Senator Thorpe serves as a reminder of this pressing need.
