Lidia Thorpe suspended from Senate after throwing paper

Senator Lidia Thorpe has been suspended from the Senate until the end of the sitting week after throwing paper at Pauline Hanson yesterday. 

It came after the One Nation leader attempted to have independent senator Fatima Payman, who was born in Afghanistan, investigated over her “dual-citizenship.”

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Hanson alleged the former Labor senator had not provided enough documentation to prove she revoked her Afghani citizenship.  
 
Payman then accused Hanson of “racism,” a claim she was asked to withdraw.

Crossbencher Thorpe then tore up a motion by Senator Hanson and threw it at her. Thorpe said the Senate punished her for speaking out against racism.

On Wednesday night the government, opposition, One Nation, and crossbenchers David Pocock, Jacqui Lambie and Ralph Babet voted for Thorpe’s suspension until the last sitting day of the year.

Senator Thorpe told the ABC and Channel Nine she wished they had been more concerned about racism in the chamber.

“They are quick to punish the black woman here all the time for calling it out but I am responding to racism and that is what they need to focus on,” Thorpe said.

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