Australian Federal Police to Investigate Senator’s Threat to ‘Burn Down’ Parliament

Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke says there’s no benefit in responding to Senator Lidia Thorpe’s comments angrily.

Ex-Deputy Leader of the Greens in the Senate Lidia Thorpe speaks to the crowd with mock blood on her hands on September 22, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. Indigenous groups have held "Abolish the Monarchy" rallies around Australia on Thursday to highlight the impact of British colonisation in Australia. Thursday 22 September was declared a one-off public holiday as a National Day of Mourning for Australia following Queen Elizabeth II's death. Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images

Australian Federal Police (AFP) will investigate whether independent Senator Lidia Thorpe violated laws when she told a rally she was prepared to “burn down Parliament House” in support of Palestinians.

Senator Thorpe said her remarks at a pro-Palestine rally were “clearly” a figure of speech.