The Economic Empowerment Bill 2021 puts forward the most comprehensive changes in 45 years to the Australian Land Rights Act 1976. After successfully negotiating for the Bill to go to a full Inquiry, Senator Lidia Thorpe notes that 92% of submissions are against this bill.

“The Senate inquiry into the Bill has revealed a lack of consultation on this Bill and most stakeholders who gave evidence reject this Bill."

“Most submissions call for the Bill to be axed, it's telling that only the likes of the Mineral Council want this Bill to go ahead.”

Senator Lidia Thorpe: the Greens spokesperson for Justice, First Nations and Sport, will be returning to Gippsland for the campaign launch of Marjorie Thorpe.

Date: Friday November 19, 2021 
Time: 11:00 am - 12:00 noon 
Address: Yallourn North & District Historical Society
12-16 Third St,
Yallourn North VIC 3825

The Australian Greens condemn the move by the Meeting of Attorneys General (MAG) towards raising the age of legal responsibility from 10 to 12 years of age. 

“The MAG announcement shows a deliberate disregard of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, medical evidence and First Nations advocates. The experts all agree: we need to raise the age of legal responsibility to 14.” Said the Greens spokesperson for Justice and First Nations, Senator Lidia Thorpe.

Gomeroi man, Stanley Russell, a father, was shot dead by NSW police. His brother, Eddie Russell, died in police custody in 1999. “Violence against First Nations people is a national crisis and the Morrison Government is doing nothing about it,” said Gunnai, Gunditjmara and DjabWurrung Senator for Victoria Lidia Thorpe.

The following lines are attributable to the Greens spokesperson for Justice and First Nations, Senator Lidia Thorpe:

“Mobilising the police and Australian Defence Force to treat a public health crisis is absurd,” said The Greens spokesperson for Justice and First Nations Senator Lidia Thorpe, as the ADF begins their deployment to Western Sydney. 

“Officers of the law are not experts in public health messaging, culturally accessible information and welfare support services that enable people to stay at home safely,” said Thorpe. Western Sydney has a significant First Nations and multicultural community. 

Thirty years since the final report of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, Australia has yet to reckon with its history and the reality that Black Lives Matter.

George Floyd couldn’t breathe - and across the world, his death sparked a renewed conversation around racial injustice, justice systems and police reform.

The Greens have again called on the Government to act urgently to end Blak deaths in custody, following reports today of yet another death of a First Nations man in custody  - the fourth in the past fortnight.

The Aboriginal Legal Service of NSW and ACT today reports that Barkindji man Anzac Sullivan, 37, died during a police pursuit in Broken Hill on Thursday 18 March. 

As the Black Lives Matter movement gains momentum around the world, the Greens have today called for lethal choking holds to be banned across all states and territories.

It follows media reports today that Townsville police used a lethal choking hold method when arresting a First Nations man, who died in 2018.

The Greens today welcomed the announcement of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Victoria - a historical opportunity for First Nations people to tell the truth of the history of violent dispossession from their land.