Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe has told a pro-Palestinian rally she will use all tools at her disposal to support Indigenous and Palestinian people — including burning down "Parliament House to make a point" if needs be.
While the comment was undoubtedly metaphorical, it was quickly condemned by the federal opposition.
As a fragile ceasefire appeared to take hold in Gaza, thousands of people marched through central Melbourne on Sunday, demanding protection for civilians and an end to a conflict which has seen continuous rallies throughout the country over the past two years.
Victoria Police estimated around 3,500 people gathered in Melbourne's CBD for the rally, with many speakers welcoming the ceasefire but expressing scepticism that it would hold.
Indigenous activist and scholar Gary Foley addressed the crowd briefly, saying his "f***ed" lungs limited his speaking, but urged Australians not to "be fooled by fake Trump bullshit".
"The fight goes on, the struggle goes on," he said, expressing the "solidarity of the Aboriginal people with our Palestinian brothers and sisters — we stand with you in our mutual struggles for justice and freedom".
It was Senator Thorpe's remarks, however, that drew the most attention.
The Gunnai, Gunditjmara and Djab Wurrung Senator compared the Palestinian struggle to that of Indigenous Australians, saying they "stand in solidarity because we know what it's like to have a boot on our neck every moment that we are alive".
"But we have survived," she said.
She told the crowd she would go to any lengths to support marginalised people.
"So we stand with you every day, and we will fight every day," she said.
"And we will turn up every day, and if I have to burn down Parliament House to make a point… I am not there to make friends.
"I am there to get justice for our people, and I am there to free Palestine from the river to the sea."
Liberal Senator Michaelia Cash, an outspoken supporter of Israel, called Senator Thorpe's comments "disgraceful and shocking but unfortunately unsurprising".
She said the opposition would consider "options available to the Senate to hold Senator Thorpe accountable," The Age reported, with the same publication citing Coalition sources who said they would be discussing potential actions such as a censure motion or a referral to the privileges committee.
Last month, Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price avoided sanction after falsely accusing Labor of importing Indian migrants to boost votes, while in the lower house, MP Bob Katter was not penalised for threatening to physically confront a journalist.
By contrast, Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi was sanctioned in July for holding up a sign expressing solidarity with Gazans during the Governor-General's address to parliament, banning her from overseas parliamentary delegations for the rest of the term.
Sunday's rallies — held nationwide — marked two years since the October 7 Hamas attacks in Israel that killed 1,200 people. The ensuing Israeli campaign in Gaza has claimed more than 67,000 Palestinian lives, most of them women and children.
International legal and human rights experts, including the UN Human Rights Council, have described Israel's actions as a genocide. UN-backed food security agencies have declared famine in Gaza City, while most of the population has been repeatedly displaced during the conflict.
As part of the ceasefire agreement, on Monday, Israel is expected to release nearly 2000 Palestinian prisoners — including approximately 250 people jailed by Israel before the current escalation in the long-running conflict began and around 1700 detained since October 7, 2023 — in exchange for the 20 remaining hostages taken by Hamas, the proscribed terrorist organisation that governs Gaza.
