LIDIA THORPE QUITS GREENS

Lidia Thorpe in 2019. Credit: Julian Meehan.

Senator Lidia Thorpe has quit the Greens Party to represent the Blak Sovereign Movement on the cross bench. 

Ms Thorpe made the announcement at a press conference today.

“There is a Blak Sovereign Movement out there that no one wants to listen to, so I’ll be their voice,” she said.

The Senator said she wished to speak from a sovereignty perspective without being constrained by Greens party positions.

“Greens MPs, members and supporters have told me they want to support the Voice,” she said.

“This is at odds with the community of activists who are saying Treaty before Voice. This is the message delivered on the streets on January 26. This is the movement I was raised in. My Elders marched for Treaty. This is who I am.”

Ms Thorpe has not yet announced her final position on the Voice to Parliament referendum.

She said she wished to continue negotiating with the government about the Voice.