The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has confirmed to media it is investigating independent senator Lidia Thorpe after she told a pro-Palestine rally in Melbourne that she would “burn down Parliament House to make a point”.
The AFP’s National Security Investigations (NSI) team in Victoria began examining the comments “almost immediately” to determine whether any legislation was breached.
“This will be done methodically,” an AFP spokesperson said.
“Noting the public commentary and concern, the AFP is seeking to reassure the community that this issue is being appropriately considered and undertaken in a timely manner.”
As per reports the agency said it was breaking from its usual practice of not commenting on ongoing matters to provide reassurance amid widespread public concern.
Senator Thorpe made the alleged controversial remarks during a rally on Sunday, declaring:
“We stand with you every day, and we will fight every day, and we will turn up every day, and if I have to burn down Parliament House to make a point … I am not there to make friends.”
The statement drew immediate condemnation from both government and opposition MPs, with several describing her words as “disgraceful” and “irresponsible”.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson unleashed a scathing attack on Senator Thorpe, calling her actions at the Melbourne pro-Palestine rally “shameful” and demanding the Australian Federal Police take immediate action. “The shameful actions of former Greens senator Lidia Thorpe at yesterday’s pro-Palestine protests should be immediately investigated by the Federal Police,” Hanson said.
Hanson also revealed she had written directly to the AFP Commissioner, criticising what she described as the “weak response” from other politicians. “I am sick to death of no one taking action against Senator Thorpe for her vile behaviour,” Hanson said.
“Incitement is very clear: intentionally urging a person or group to use force or violence against another group, based on race, religion, nationality, or political opinion. If it were you or I who threatened to burn down Parliament House, we would have already received a knock on the door from authorities who would have taken us in for questioning. Enough is enough.”
On Monday, Senator Thorpe defended her remarks, insisting they were metaphorical and not meant literally. “My rally remarks were clearly a figure of speech – a metaphor for the pain in our communities and the urgent need to end genocide in Palestine and everywhere,” she said.
“They were obviously not a literal threat. This mock outrage is ridiculous.”
She accused politicians and the media of “chasing a scandal” instead of focusing on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, adding:
“I have always rejected violence. Any suggestion otherwise misrepresents my long-standing commitment to justice and self-determination for First Peoples and all oppressed peoples through peaceful, democratic means.”
Government frontbencher Tanya Plibersek told 7News the comments “absolutely irresponsible”, while Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke urged restraint. Burke told ABC Radio:
“The concept of wanting to inflame, push the temperature up, is not what anyone should be doing, least of all a member of parliament.”
Liberal senator Maria Kovacic said Senator Thorpe “should consider whether she is right to be sitting in our parliament”, while Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Michaelia Cash labelled the remarks “disgraceful and shocking” in an interview with ABC.
The AFP’s NSI team, created under new commissioner Krissy Barrett, investigates matters involving extremism, political violence and threats to public safety that do not necessarily meet the threshold for terrorism.
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