Bad romance! Green senator Lidia Thorpe is forced to QUIT her post following a relationship scandal with a Rebels bikie boss
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It's no secret that politicians are held to a high standard. They are often in the public eye and their relationships are frequently a topic of controversy, especially when said relationships appear to go against their principles.
Such has been the case for Senator Lidia Thorpe who was forced to resign from her position as the Senate deputy leader of the Green Party as a result of her 'brief' relationship with a Rebels bikie commander who is the uncle of AFL star Dustin Martin.
Ms Thorpe claimed on Thursday that she first met Dean Martin, who formerly served as the president of the Rebels Victoria branch, through a black activism group back in early 2021.
After a brief relationship, the two are now reportedly 'friends'.
'We remain friends and have collaborated on our shared interests advocating for the rights of First Nations peoples,' the politician said.
Hours after the announcement, it was reported that Senator Thorpe resigned from her senior role in the party — but not from her post in Parliament.
Her leader, Adam Bandt, voiced his displeasure and frustration about Ms Thorpe's behaviour in a press conference on Thursday, emphasising his disappointment over her 'error of judgement'.
'As a leader I expect my senators and MPs, especially those in leadership positions, to exercise good judgement,' he said.
'At a minimum, Senator Thorpe needed to disclose to me her connection to Mr Martin and her failure to do so showed a significant lack of judgement.'
The politician also confirmed that he had asked Senator Thorpe to quit her position from the Greens leadership team.
He added: 'I have spoken to Senator Thorpe, and she has told me that at no stage was there any breach of the rules regarding those committees or her work, no sharing of confidential information, and to date no-one has suggested otherwise.'
'But that is not enough. It was clear that this could be perceived as affecting her work and her failure to disclose that, at the very least, to me was an error of judgement.'
It was said that Mr Bandt is currently taking actions to meet with the Federal Police.
In a statement, Ms Thorpe said that she had 'made mistakes' and 'not exercised good judgement' when she agreed to be in a brief relationship with Mr Martin.
She remarked: 'I will now reflect on this and focus on my important portfolio work, especially advocating for First Nations people.'
The ABC claimed that Ms Thorpe might have failed to inform Mr Bandt about the relationship despite her staff urging her to do so.
The news outlet also divulged that the staff members allegedly informed the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service regarding their concerns after they learned that Ms Thorpe sat on a joint parliamentary law enforcement committee that held confidential briefings about outlaw motorcycle gangs.
The senator said: 'Obviously, I'm concerned about the criminal activities of outlaw motorcycle clubs in general. But when we met, Mr Martin was no longer involved with that world.'
She claimed that she always treated any documents given to the committee with confidentiality.
It should be noted that in 2018, Martin resigned from his position as president of the Rebels Victoria chapter after his brother, Dustin Martin's father Shane, was deported to New Zealand due to his connections to the bikie gang albeit not being a convicted felon.
Ms Thorpe was said to inform two different members of her staff about the connection in May and June of last year. The report also suggested that one of the staff members confronted her about it some time in August 2021.
According to the ABC, the staff member had seen that secret documents about the Australian Federal Police's monitoring of illegal motorcycle gangs arrived at Ms Thorpe's Melbourne office just hours after they had met with Martin.
The staff member later noted in a work journal that the senator should speak with the leader's office because she was in grave danger of being blackmailed, especially if someone found out.
Ms Thorpe recently came under fire for allegedly yelling angrily at the co-chairs of the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria, Marcus Stewart and Aunty Geraldine Atkinson, during a meeting in a committee room at Parliament House on June 22, 2021.
According to reports, Ms Atkinson, who is in her 70s, was so alarmed by Senator Thorpe's actions that she later asked the parliamentary nurse for help.
David Mejia-Canales, a former chief of staff for Ms. Thorpe who was present at the meeting, later expressed regret for not adjourning it sooner following Senator Thorpe's 'appalling' behaviour.
The actions of politicians are often viewed under a magnifying glass as they are not only representing themselves, but also the principles of their office.
For better or for worse, the actions of politicians can have a big impact on the country and its people.
Keeping this in mind, what do you think of this high-profile romantic relationship that landed Senator Lidia Thorpe in some trouble? Do you think the reaction of her leader was justified? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
Such has been the case for Senator Lidia Thorpe who was forced to resign from her position as the Senate deputy leader of the Green Party as a result of her 'brief' relationship with a Rebels bikie commander who is the uncle of AFL star Dustin Martin.
Ms Thorpe claimed on Thursday that she first met Dean Martin, who formerly served as the president of the Rebels Victoria branch, through a black activism group back in early 2021.
After a brief relationship, the two are now reportedly 'friends'.
'We remain friends and have collaborated on our shared interests advocating for the rights of First Nations peoples,' the politician said.
Dean Martin, the former president of the Rebels Victoria branch, and Ms Thorpe allegedly began dating in early 2021 after meeting through the ‘Blak activism’ group. Credit: Facebook.
Hours after the announcement, it was reported that Senator Thorpe resigned from her senior role in the party — but not from her post in Parliament.
Her leader, Adam Bandt, voiced his displeasure and frustration about Ms Thorpe's behaviour in a press conference on Thursday, emphasising his disappointment over her 'error of judgement'.
'As a leader I expect my senators and MPs, especially those in leadership positions, to exercise good judgement,' he said.
'At a minimum, Senator Thorpe needed to disclose to me her connection to Mr Martin and her failure to do so showed a significant lack of judgement.'
The politician also confirmed that he had asked Senator Thorpe to quit her position from the Greens leadership team.
He added: 'I have spoken to Senator Thorpe, and she has told me that at no stage was there any breach of the rules regarding those committees or her work, no sharing of confidential information, and to date no-one has suggested otherwise.'
'But that is not enough. It was clear that this could be perceived as affecting her work and her failure to disclose that, at the very least, to me was an error of judgement.'
Staff members of Ms. Thorpe were concerned that her participation in a parliamentary law enforcement committee hearing testimony on illegal motorcycle gangs would give the impression that she had a conflict of interest because of her brief connection with former Rebels boss Dean Martin. Credit: AAP Image.
It was said that Mr Bandt is currently taking actions to meet with the Federal Police.
In a statement, Ms Thorpe said that she had 'made mistakes' and 'not exercised good judgement' when she agreed to be in a brief relationship with Mr Martin.
She remarked: 'I will now reflect on this and focus on my important portfolio work, especially advocating for First Nations people.'
The ABC claimed that Ms Thorpe might have failed to inform Mr Bandt about the relationship despite her staff urging her to do so.
The news outlet also divulged that the staff members allegedly informed the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service regarding their concerns after they learned that Ms Thorpe sat on a joint parliamentary law enforcement committee that held confidential briefings about outlaw motorcycle gangs.
The senator said: 'Obviously, I'm concerned about the criminal activities of outlaw motorcycle clubs in general. But when we met, Mr Martin was no longer involved with that world.'
She claimed that she always treated any documents given to the committee with confidentiality.
It should be noted that in 2018, Martin resigned from his position as president of the Rebels Victoria chapter after his brother, Dustin Martin's father Shane, was deported to New Zealand due to his connections to the bikie gang albeit not being a convicted felon.
Ms Thorpe was said to inform two different members of her staff about the connection in May and June of last year. The report also suggested that one of the staff members confronted her about it some time in August 2021.
According to the ABC, the staff member had seen that secret documents about the Australian Federal Police's monitoring of illegal motorcycle gangs arrived at Ms Thorpe's Melbourne office just hours after they had met with Martin.
The staff member later noted in a work journal that the senator should speak with the leader's office because she was in grave danger of being blackmailed, especially if someone found out.
Ms Thorpe recently came under fire for allegedly yelling angrily at the co-chairs of the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria, Marcus Stewart and Aunty Geraldine Atkinson, during a meeting in a committee room at Parliament House on June 22, 2021.
According to reports, Ms Atkinson, who is in her 70s, was so alarmed by Senator Thorpe's actions that she later asked the parliamentary nurse for help.
David Mejia-Canales, a former chief of staff for Ms. Thorpe who was present at the meeting, later expressed regret for not adjourning it sooner following Senator Thorpe's 'appalling' behaviour.
The actions of politicians are often viewed under a magnifying glass as they are not only representing themselves, but also the principles of their office.
For better or for worse, the actions of politicians can have a big impact on the country and its people.
Keeping this in mind, what do you think of this high-profile romantic relationship that landed Senator Lidia Thorpe in some trouble? Do you think the reaction of her leader was justified? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
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