A prominent integrity advocate in federal Parliament has slammed Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe for failing to disclose a relationship with former bikie boss Dean Martin while she was on a law enforcement committee.
Independent MP Helen Haines said Thorpe had made a “grave error of judgment” by not declaring the relationship and said the revelation proved why there should be a code of conduct for members of Parliament.
“Senator Thorpe should have declared her relationship,” Haines told Crikey on Friday morning.
Haines, the deputy chair of a select committee looking into the legislation for a proposed new integrity watchdog in Canberra, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), made the comments before heading into a public hearing on the matter.
“Avoiding conflicts of interest and the appearance of conflicts of interest is vital for a member of Parliament,” the Indi MP said.
“This is why it is well overdue to introduce a code of conduct for all MPs, not just for ministers, so that such expectations are codified and followed by all.”
The NACC hearing on Friday will feature testimony from the Australian Public Service Commission, former heads of the NSW and ACT corruption watchdogs, and officials from the Department of the Attorney-General, among others.
A separate select committee, looking into whether there should be a code of conduct for MPs, is due to deliver a report on the matter by December 1.
The revelation Thorpe had been in an undisclosed relationship with Dean Martin, the former president of a Rebels motorcycle gang, prompted Greens Leader Adam Bandt to demand her resignation as the party’s deputy leader in the Senate.
But Bandt is facing questions as well, including why his chief of staff didn’t tell him about Thorpe’s relationship despite being informed about it by her staff, according to the ABC, which revealed the affair on Thursday.
Thorpe told the ABC she briefly dated the man in early 2021.
“We remain friends and have collaborated on our shared interests advocating for the rights of First Nations peoples,” she said.
It is not suggested that Thorpe shared any confidential information with unauthorised people, nor that Dean Martin, who has no criminal convictions, has any continuing association with outlaw motorcycle gangs.
Bandt said the failure of Thorpe to disclose the relationship to the party showed a “significant lapse in judgment”.
“Senator Thorpe says she understands this,” Bandt told reporters on Thursday afternoon.
“So I now expect her to demonstrate better judgment going forward and in exercising her continuing portfolio responsibilities.”
Was Lidia Thorpe right to resign? Let us know your thoughts by writing to letters@crikey.com.au. Please include your full name to be considered for publication. We reserve the right to edit for length and clarity.
If any member of parliament needs a rule book to tell them that Thorpe’s reported behaviour was unacceptable, they automatically categorise themselves as unfit for office. She’s not alone, mind you.
That was my first thought. It’s the sort of thing that would presumably prevent anyone from getting a basic security clearance, so why would it be acceptable for a politician?
What behaviour, she dated a man a couple of times who has committed zero crimes and the entire rest of the committee are human trading baby jailing criminals. What on earth could she even pass on, there were not committees sitting at the time. Not to mention is our associates make us criminals we are all criminals on some level and all lawyers should be excluded because they associate with criminals.
Less than a year ago, prime minister Morrison claimed he could not see the relevance of a commission investigating ‘who your boyfriend is’.
Both of whom were MPs and one had control of the NSW Treasury.
Saucey Goosey Gander.
She constantly shows a lack of judgement and is a liability to the Greens and probably also for First Nations people
The man in question is not currently a member of a bikie gang and has never been charged let alone found guilty of any offence? Was he a current member at the time? While I understand the concerns and think it should have been declared, there have been far more concerning liaisons amongst politicians in the previous government which resulted in…?
I remember someone saying “I don’t need to know about that bit”, but that was only a Liberal State leader, so naturally, blind eye turn, nothing to investigate.
If Gladys had been black and a Green, Labour or Independent, however…
Such rigourous standards only apply to female MPs, poor impressionable creatures that they are, so gossipy and easily manipulated.
And let’s not even get into the pillow talk!
I somewhat reluctantly joined he Greens 18 months ago as the Green’s policies best matched my own social/political views. views. I left a year later as I could not stomach the aggressive unpleasantness of Lydia Thorpe and the fact that she could retain a leadership role after her disgusting remarks in parliament. This woman is a menace and undermines everything positive, decent and sensible about the Greens.
I don’t believe you.