Labor MP Marion Scrymgour has engaged lawyers over a series of comments made by firebrand Senator Lidia Thorpe.
Ms Thorpe questioned the Federal Member for Lingiari during a Senate estimates hearing in early June over funds the Northern Land Council received during the Covid pandemic when she was chief executive.
The independent senator accused Ms Scrymgour of trying to use stimulus money issued during the pandemic for political campaigning, and questioned current executives about whether a grant worth $400,000 was used ‘to build a holiday house for Ms Scrymgour’s family at Twin Hill Station’.
Ms Scrymgour strenuously denied the accusations at the time and maintains she has nothing to hide.
Senator Lidia Thorpe (pictured) questioned the Federal Member for Lingiari in the Northern Territory during a Senate estimates hearing in early June over funds received during the Covid pandemic during her time as chief executive of the Northern Land Council
Those comments made by Ms Thorpe were done so under parliamentary privilege, which protects politicians from legal action of this kind.
But Ms Scrymgour argues that social media posts Ms Thorpe later made about the allegations meant she would ‘forego parliamentary privilege.
‘Senator Thorpe does not respect the institute of parliament or what it stands for,’ she said.
‘But she is happy to use it to attack people she sees as her political opponents – especially when they are other First Nations women.
‘To have one aspect of the system deliberately weaponised through social media in relation to something that has nothing to do with my performance as an elected member and by someone who seeks to augment her First Nations identity and credentials by claiming association and relationship with Aboriginal territorians.
‘She has nothing to do with us. I have engaged lawyers in relation to the social media posts.’
Labor MP Marion Scrymgour (pictured) has engaged lawyers over a series of comments made by firebrand Senator Lidia Thorpe
Ms Scrymgour said Ms Thorpe’s decision to discuss these allegations outside of standard parliamentary processes ‘extended and aggravated her imputations, leaving no doubt as to her malicious, personal and political motivation.
‘I take these allegations very seriously — they are offensive and they need to be dealt with. They are slurs on my character.’
The Northern Land Council executives told the Senate hearing investigations would be taking place into allegations of Covid stimulus misuse, but there was no indication that Ms Scrymgour had any involvement.