PM’s message to Adam Bandt after Lidia Thorpe resigned from Greens leadership role: ‘Respond with a full explanation’

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called on the Greens to “change their procedures” after Senator Lidia Thorpe resigned from a leadership role following revelations she dated a former bikie.  

Senator Thorpe quit as Greens deputy Senate leader on Thursday having acknowledged she “made mistakes and have not exercised good judgement” by not disclosing the relationship.

Her resignation – requested by party leader Adam Bandt – came after she admitted she “briefly dated” ex-president of Rebels Victoria Dean Martin while she sat on the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement.

Senator Thorpe has since been warned she could face a censure motion from the Coalition, with Mr Albanese declaring the government will look into any proposals that are moved.

“We’ll examine any proposals should they be moved,” the Prime Minister told reporters in Perth on Friday.

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“My understanding is that the committee of which Senator Thorpe was a member is examining what details went before the committee to make sure that there has been no conflict there.

“That’s appropriate that that action takes place.”

The committee’s chair Helen Polley – who said Senator Thorpe needed to give serious consideration to whether the Senate is “really a place for her” – told The Australian the investigation will look into whether a breach of confidence had been made. 

“The secretariat is examining all our minutes to see what transactions took place while Lidia was in attendance at meetings and whether she was in attendance during briefings from AFP that might have had a broad approach to organised crime and motorcycle gangs,” Senator Polley said. 

The ABC revealed this week two staffers for Senator Thorpe had raised concerns about the relationship to the office of the Greens leader and an independent parliamentary authority.

Despite her staffers’ concerns, Senator Thorpe did not reveal the relationship to Mr Bandt, according to the ABC, but one staff member did raise the issue with his chief of staff.

Mr Bandt told reporters on Thursday he expected to have been told by his office and has “counselled” his chief of staff on the matter.

The Prime Minister said the Greens leader needed to provide a “full explanation” of what went on. 

“It is appropriate that Mr Bandt respond with a full explanation of exactly the circumstances here,” Mr Albanese said.

“The fact that he apparently wasn’t aware of this information from Senator Thorpe even though it was reported to his office, clearly shows that they need to change their procedures that are in place.”

Senator Thorpe is facing growing calls to quit Parliament over the revelation, with deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley believing the Greens politician is “unfit to serve”.

Ms Ley was asked on Sky News Australia’s First Edition whether Senator Thorpe stepping down was “where it should end” and the matter should now be “dropped”.

“Definitely not. I completely agree with (Opposition Leader) Peter Dutton and his remarks that she is unfit to serve in the Senate,” she told host Peter Stefanovic.

While Senator Thorpe has stepped away from her leadership roles, she remains the party’s spokesperson on First Nations, the republic and sport – a move which Country Liberal Party Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has described as “untenable”.

“She should be stripped of any further responsibilities, she shouldn’t be holding portfolios, basically her position is untenable,” Senator Price told Sky News Australia’s Laura Jayes on Friday.

“This isn’t the first error or poor judgement the senator has made.

“For Adam Bandt to suggest that it’s a significant error of judgement, yes that’s correct, however to go on to say that she is fit to be able to represent the interests of indigenous Australians demonstrates just how low the standard is that the Greens hold for the betterment of marginalised indigenous Australians.

“Marginalised Indigenous Australians deserve much better than this, Australians deserve much better than this.”

Senator Price said she wanted to see the Greens disendorse Senator Thorpe and an investigation launched into the revelations by the new anti-corruption commission.