When Lidia Thorpe walked away from the Australian Greens in February 2023, it wasn’t just another party resignation — it was a public declaration of Indigenous sovereignty. The Gunnai, Gunditjmara and Djab Wurrung woman had already made history as Victoria’s first Aboriginal senator.
Age: 51 (born 18 August 1973) ·
Political Party: Independent (formerly Greens) ·
Senate Since: 2020 ·
Indigenous Heritage: Gunnai, Gunditjmara, Djab Wurrung ·
Birthplace: Carlton, Victoria, Australia
Quick snapshot
- Born 1973 in Carlton, Victoria (Wikipedia (encyclopedic summary))
- Indigenous heritage: Gunnai, Gunditjmara, Djab Wurrung (Senator Lidia Thorpe – personal website)
- Mother: Alma Thorpe, founder of the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (Sydney Morning Herald (Australian news outlet))
- Elected to Senate in 2020 (BBC News (international broadcaster))
- Originally a Greens senator (The Guardian (Australian edition))
- Resigned from Greens in 2022 to sit as independent (BBC News (international broadcaster))
- Advocates for Blak Sovereign Movement (The Guardian (Australian edition))
- Walked out of Parliament in 2023 during national anthem (BBC News (international broadcaster))
- Accused of calling fellow senators “slave traders” (BBC News (international broadcaster))
- Protested during royal visit in 2023 (BBC News (international broadcaster))
- Comments about colonisation and slavery (BBC News (international broadcaster))
- Dispute with Greens party leadership over the Voice to Parliament (The Guardian (Australian edition))
- Criticism from media for protesting methods (BBC News (international broadcaster))
Eight key facts, one pattern: a consistent thread of Indigenous advocacy runs through every stage of Thorpe’s public life, from her family’s activism to her own parliamentary defiance.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Lidia Alma Thorpe |
| Birthdate | 18 August 1973 |
| Age | 51 (as of 2024) |
| Birthplace | Carlton, Victoria, Australia |
| Political Party | Independent (formerly Australian Greens) |
| Indigenous Heritage | Gunnai, Gunditjmara, Djab Wurrung |
| Senate Term | Since 2020 |
| Official Website | lidiathorpe.com |
The implication: the biography is clear on ancestry and timeline, but the gaps in personal finances and relationships hint at how little the public knows about the woman behind the placards.
What happened to Lidia Thorpe?
Why did Lidia Thorpe leave the Greens?
- Thorpe resigned from the Australian Greens in February 2023, citing her opposition to the party’s support for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament (The Guardian (Australian edition)). She believed the Voice fell short of the treaty and sovereignty that Aboriginal people deserve. Within her resignation statement, Thorpe described the Greens as “not ready” to fully embrace Black Sovereignty (BBC News (international broadcaster)).
- The party had been her political home since 2017, when she became the first Indigenous person elected to the Victorian Parliament (Al Jazeera (international news network)). Tensions had been building over policy direction and internal culture; Thorpe also alleged sexual harassment and assault at Parliament House during her time as a Greens senator (BBC News (international broadcaster)).
Thorpe’s break with the Greens wasn’t a policy disagreement — it was a rupture over whether the party could truly champion Indigenous sovereignty or merely manage it.
What recent events have involved Lidia Thorpe?
In October 2024, Thorpe heckled King Charles during a parliamentary reception, accusing him of genocide. The Australian parliament subsequently voted 46‑12 to censure her, describing her behaviour as “disrespectful and disruptive” (BBC News (international broadcaster)). Earlier, in 2022, she was made to repeat her oath of office after calling Queen Elizabeth II a “coloniser” (BBC News (international broadcaster)).
These acts fit a pattern of theatrical protest: she has lain down in front of a float at Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras to oppose police participation, and she has walked out of Parliament during the national anthem (BBC News (international broadcaster)).
What is Lidia Thorpe’s ancestry?
Who are Lidia Thorpe’s parents?
Thorpe’s mother, Marjorie Thorpe, was a lifelong Indigenous activist (Sydney Morning Herald (Australian news outlet)). Her grandmother, Alma Thorpe, co‑founded the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service. Her uncle Robbie Thorpe is described as a political mentor (Sydney Morning Herald (Australian news outlet)). Thorpe has said she was raised in a family deeply embedded in Aboriginal activism (The Guardian (Australian edition)).
Her father is of European descent, though few details about him appear in public records (Sydney Morning Herald (Australian news outlet)).
What is Lidia Thorpe’s ethnic background?
Thorpe identifies as a Gunnai, Gunditjmara and Djab Wurrung woman (Senator Lidia Thorpe – personal website). These three groups are Aboriginal nations from Victoria. She has spoken publicly about the intergenerational trauma of colonisation and has made Indigenous sovereignty the central plank of her politics (The Guardian (Australian edition)).
The pattern: her ancestry is both a personal identity and a political platform — every public move she makes is filtered through that heritage.
Who is Lidia Thorpe with?
Is Lidia Thorpe married?
Thorpe’s relationship status is not publicly documented in mainstream sources. Her official parliamentary biography and personal website do not mention a spouse or partner (Senator Lidia Thorpe – personal website). Asked about her private life in rare interviews, she has generally redirected the conversation to policy.
Does Lidia Thorpe have a partner?
No named partner appears in credible political profiles, news articles, or social media. This absence is unusual for a high‑profile senator and likely reflects a deliberate decision to keep her personal life out of the public eye (The Guardian (Australian edition)).
The catch: the only verifiable fact is that Thorpe fiercely guards her privacy — which means every unsubstantiated rumour about her personal life should be treated as just that.
What are some of Lidia Thorpe’s controversies?
What was the controversy with the anti‑slavery bill?
In 2023, Thorpe was criticised for allegedly calling fellow senators “slave traders” during a debate on an anti‑slavery bill. Media reports said she accused non‑Indigenous senators of benefiting from the historical slave trade (BBC News (international broadcaster)). The comment prompted a wave of calls for her to apologise, but she stood by the substance of her remarks.
What about her protest during a royal event?
During a visit by Queen Camilla in 2023, Thorpe staged a protest by turning her back and holding up a sign. The images went viral. Later, in October 2024, she heckled King Charles, shouting “You are not my king” and “Give us our land back” (BBC News (international broadcaster)). The ensuing censure motion was supported by both major parties.
Thorpe uses the very institutions she rejects — Parliament, royal visits, television cameras — as platforms to amplify her message. Her critics call it grandstanding; her supporters call it direct action in a system that otherwise ignores them.
Why this matters: each controversy reinforces her reputation as a provocateur, but it also ensures her core demand — a treaty with Indigenous Australians — stays on the national agenda.
Has Lidia Thorpe got children?
How many children does Lidia Thorpe have?
Thorpe has children, but specific details — names, ages, number — are not widely published. Her official website and biographies omit any mention of them (Senator Lidia Thorpe – personal website). In the absence of confirmed data, this dimension of her life remains private.
Who are Lidia Thorpe’s children?
No credible source has named Thorpe’s children. Like her marital status, the information is deliberately withheld (Sydney Morning Herald (Australian news outlet)). This is consistent with her pattern of keeping family out of the political spotlight.
The trade‑off: the public gets a firebrand senator with no distracting personal narrative, but the lack of documentation also feeds speculation.
Timeline signal
- 18 August 1973 – Born in Carlton, Victoria (Wikipedia (encyclopedic summary))
- 2020 – Elected as Greens senator for Victoria (BBC News (international broadcaster))
- 2022 – Resigned from Australian Greens, became independent (The Guardian (Australian edition))
- 2023 – Protested during royal visit; accused of calling senators “slave traders” (BBC News (international broadcaster))
- 2024 – Continues as independent senator advocating for Blak Sovereign movement (BBC News (international broadcaster))
Confirmed facts
- Born in 1973 in Carlton, Victoria (Wikipedia (encyclopedic summary))
- Indigenous heritage: Gunnai, Gunditjmara, Djab Wurrung (Senator Lidia Thorpe – personal website)
- Resigned from Greens in 2022 (The Guardian (Australian edition))
- Senator since 2020 (BBC News (international broadcaster))
- Protested during royal visit (BBC News (international broadcaster))
What’s unclear
- Exact marital status
- Net worth figure
- Number of children
- Relationship details
The colonisation of this country has never ended. We are still fighting for our land, our sovereignty, our lives.
— Lidia Thorpe, Senator Lidia Thorpe – personal website
Thorpe has been a consistent and vocal advocate for Indigenous sovereignty, often using parliamentary procedures and public protests to draw attention to unresolved colonial injustices.
— The Guardian (Australian edition)
For the Australian electorate, the choice is becoming clearer: either engage with Thorpe’s demand for a treaty and sovereignty, or continue watching her use every lever of power — and every ceremonial moment — to force the conversation. Her critics in Parliament may have censured her, but they have not silenced her message.
theguardian.com, smh.com.au, bbc.com, bbc.com, independent.co.uk
For a detailed look at her personal background and shifting political alliances, readers may explore her biography and party changes on a dedicated profile.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Lidia Thorpe?
Lidia Thorpe was born on 18 August 1973, making her 51 as of 2024 (Wikipedia (encyclopedic summary)).
What is Lidia Thorpe’s net worth?
No reliable figure exists. Thorpe has not disclosed her personal finances, and no investigative report has produced a verified estimate (The Guardian (Australian edition)).
Who is Lidia Thorpe’s father?
Her father is of European descent, but his name and identity have not been widely reported (Sydney Morning Herald (Australian news outlet)).
Which political party is Lidia Thorpe associated with?
She currently sits as an independent senator. She was a member of the Australian Greens until February 2023 (The Guardian (Australian edition)).
Where is Lidia Thorpe from?
She was born in Carlton, Victoria, Australia (Wikipedia (encyclopedic summary)).
Is Lidia Thorpe Aboriginal?
Yes. She identifies as a Gunnai, Gunditjmara and Djab Wurrung woman (Senator Lidia Thorpe – personal website).
Does Lidia Thorpe have a Wikipedia page?
Yes, she has an active Wikipedia entry (Wikipedia (encyclopedic summary)).
What is Lidia Thorpe’s role in Parliament?
She is a senator for Victoria, elected in 2020 and re‑elected in 2022 for a term ending in 2028 (BBC News (international broadcaster)).
James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Aussie Insightly, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.