Lidia Thorpe has doubled down on her allegations she was sexually assaulted in parliament, claiming she was ‘followed aggressively, propositioned and inappropriately touched’.
The Independent senator tearfully said she never spoke publicly about her alleged experience because it happened at the same time as Brittany Higgins came forward with rape allegations.
Thorpe told the Senate she had placed her faith in the Liberal party that her complaint was being taken seriously.
She said she would not be taking the complaint to the police and did not name Liberal senator David Van.
However, her allegations on Thursday follow her statement on Wednesday against the fellow Victorian senator, where she accused him of harassment and sexual assault.
Thorpe formally withdraw four hours later to comply with standing orders.
But on Thursday, she doubled down on sex assault allegations, saying when she started in the senate in 2020, parliament was ‘not a safe place’ for women.
‘You are often alone in long corridors, with no windows, in stairwells hidden from view where there are no cameras.’
Lidia Thorpe has doubled down on her allegations she was sexually assaulted under parliamentary privilege, claiming she was ‘followed aggressively, propositioned and inappropriately touched’ – but insisted she would not make a complaint with police
Ms Thorpe claimed she was propositioned ‘by powerful men and approached in the stairwell, where there are no cameras’.
She said there are ‘different understandings of what amounts to sexual assault’ and that when she raised her complaint with the government of the day – the Coalition – ‘it was recognised as such’.
‘I was afraid to walk out of the office door. I would open it slightly and make sure the coast was clear before stepping out,’ she said. ‘I had to be accompanied by someone – that is how the Greens supported me and I thank them for that.’
Ms Thorpe told the Senate she was sure the then prime minister Scott Morrison had been informed. He said in a statement on Wednesday he did not recall.
‘I was convinced the government believed me… my faith in the Liberal party was not the right decision.
‘Until yesterday, I thought they took the issue seriously.’
Ms Thorpe said ‘silence is violence’, noting she was prompted to speak out on Wednesday when Mr Van ‘had the gall to stand up in parliament’ to address the handling of Brittany Higgins’ complaint in parliament this week.
She will not pursue legal action or go to police, but vowed to ‘continue to speak out against the abuse and harassment that happens in this building’.
‘That is my choice. I want to focus on making this place safe for everyone. And at this moment, it is not a safe place for women and I call on the government to immediately increase the number of security guards in the building and cameras in the corridors and to consult women who work here on what measures can and should be taken.’
As Ms Thorpe finished detailing her new allegations and thanked the Senate, One Nation’s Pauline Hanson – who sits next to Ms Thorpe – made a comment under her breath, to which Ms Thorpe responded: ‘f**k off Pauline’.
The Independent senator tearfully said she never spoke publicly about her alleged experience because it was at the same time that Brittany Higgins had come forward
She told the Senate under parliamentary privilege she did not want to take away from Ms Higgins’ experience, and placed her faith in the Liberal party that her complaint was being taken seriously
Liberal Senator David Van (pictured) says the only time he touched Senator Lidia Thorpe was when shook her hand after her maiden speech following the explosive allegations
Just hours earlier, Senator Van had vehemently denied her allegations for the third time – conceding, however, that he had moved offices after she made complaints.
Mr Van said Ms Thorpe raised allegations then ‘through her leadership to our leadership’ that he closely ‘followed her into the chamber’ in 2021, and that left her feeling ‘uncomfortable’.
Mr Van said bumping into her in the corridors of parliament as they made their way into the Senate was unavoidable given the proximity of their offices.
‘At times I’ve been in front of her, at times I have been behind her, but at no time did I harass her… I barely even said hello.’
In response to Ms Thorpe’s complaint, Mr Van said he was ‘offered another office’ further away from hers and accepted.
Ms Thorpe spoke up about the two-year-old encounter after Mr Van made a statement about the handling of Brittany Higgins’ sexual assault complaint.
She told the Senate under parliamentary privilege: ‘I just want to relay I’m feeling really uncomfortable when a perpetrator is speaking about violence…’
‘This person harassed me, sexually assaulted me, and the prime minister had to remove him from his office.
‘And to have him talking about this today is an absolute disgrace! On the whole party.’
Mr Van categorically denied the allegations – immediately afterward in the Senate, several hours later in a media statement and again this morning on 2GB.
‘I can say I think with some surety the only time I’ve ever even touched her would have been shaking her hand after her maiden speech.
‘I have not harassed her in any way, shape or form.’
Mr Van vehemently denied the allegations on Wednesday, insisting ‘it is simply not true’, prompting Senator Thorpe to storm out of the Senate. Above with his partner Nerilee
Lidia Thorpe unleashes the F-bomb at Pauline Hanson after bombshell speech doubling down on sex assault claims in Parliament House
Lidia Thorpe swore at Pauline Hanson after she muttered something under her breath in the Senate in the wake of a speech doubling down on claims she was sexually assaulted in Parliament House.
As Ms Thorpe concluded her sombre speech, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson said something under her breath that was inaudible from the Senate’s public gallery.
One report suggested Ms Hanson exclaimed ‘Oh, rubbish’ when Ms Thorpe claimed Parliament House was not a safe place to work.
‘F*** off Pauline,’ Ms Thorpe responded.
Pictured: The exchange between Senators Hanson and Thorpe as it unfolded
