An Australian senator on Thursday reaffirmed allegations that she was sexually “assaulted” by a fellow lawmaker inside Parliament, leading to the suspension of the accused by her party. Lidia Thorpe, an independent senator, shared in an emotional speech to the Senate that she experienced “sexual comments,” was cornered in a stairwell, touched inappropriately, and received “propositions” by “powerful men.” Thorpe claimed that the Australian Parliament is not a safe place for women.
Thorpe initially accused Conservative Senator David Van of “sexual assault,” but was later forced to withdraw the statement under threat of legislative sanctions. On Thursday, however, Thorpe reaffirmed most of her allegations against Van, who has vigorously denied the accusations. She said she was followed, faced aggressive overtures, and was touched inappropriately.
In response, Van, visibly emotional, called the allegations “outrageous” and “fabricated” and called for an investigation. Hands shaking as he read a text, Van accused Thorpe of “bringing the Senate into disrepute” and hiding under parliamentary privilege.
The Liberal Party suspended Van on Thursday over the allegations, which have rocked politics in Canberra and reignited accusations that Australia, despite being a democratic melting pot, remains a bastion of sexism and misogyny.
A 2021 inquiry into the “sexist culture” in the Australian Parliament revealed compelling evidence of sexual harassment and intimidation of female lawmakers and staff. According to the government-commissioned inquiry, one in three people working in Parliament reported having been the victim of some form of sexual harassment at work. These revelations have highlighted the urgency of addressing the toxic culture and promoting a safe and respectful environment for women in the political arena.