Senator Lidia Thorpe is a Gunnai, Gunditjmara and Djab Wurrung mother, grandmother, activist, and politician. She is an Independent Senator for Victoria and was the first Aboriginal Senator from Victoria.
Born in inner Melbourne’s housing commission flats, Lidia Thorpe was raised to advocate for herself and those around her.
After surviving domestic violence, Lidia raised three kids as a single mum and went on to university to study policy. This equipped her to advocate for women’s rights, public health, environmental protection, public housing and child protection. Lidia is an active campaigner for social and environmental justice, and she is a sought-after facilitator, public speaker and commentator.
In 2017, she was the first Aboriginal woman elected to the Victorian parliament. As the Victorian Greens MP for Northcote, she held several portfolios including Aboriginal Affairs, mental health, consumer affairs and sport.
In 2020 Lidia was chosen to replace Richard Di Natale in the Senate and was sworn in holding a message stick burned with 441 marks, one for each death in custody since the handing down of the findings of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody in 1991 and holding up her fist in a gesture of strength and solidarity.
In 2023 she left the Greens to sit on the crossbench as an Independent representing the Blak Sovereign Movement.
Note: Unfortunately due to not being able to attend on the day, Senator Lidia Thorpe's presentation will be pre-recorded.
Senator Lidia Thorpe is speaking via pre-recorded presentation at the conference session No justice, no peace: Achieving First Nation sovereignty 10am AWST (Boorloo/Perth time), Saturday 29 June at the Boorloo Activist Centre in Boorloo/Perth.
For online attendees in Adelaide and Darwin the session will start at 11:30am ACST, Saturday 29 June.
For online attendees in Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart, Melbourne and Sydney the session will start at 12pm AEST, Saturday 29 June.
UTC+8 hours
