The federal Coalition has hinted it could move a censure motion against Greens senator Lidia Thorpe, who’s resigned as the minor party’s deputy leader in the Senate.

It was revealed on Thursday the Victorian senator had failed to disclose a past relationship with a former bikie boss while she was sitting on a powerful parliamentary committee.

The ABC reported Senator Thorpe was in a relationship with former Rebels president Dean Martin in 2021 while serving on the law enforcement committee, which was receiving confidential briefings about bikie gangs at the time.

Labor’s Jason Clare said that looked like a clear conflict of interest.

“You can’t be on an inquiry investigating outlaw motorcycle gangs and be in a relationship with an [ex-]outlaw motorcycle gang member, a bikie,” he told Seven’s Sunrise program on Friday.

“It seems to me just to be a no-brainer here that there is a massive conflict of interest.”

Liberal deputy leader Sussan Ley said there were serious questions to answer, and challenged Labor to back a censure motion against Senator Thorpe when federal parliament sits next week.

“You can’t be receiving confidential briefings during the day about outlaw motorcycle gangs and be in bed with one of them at night. That’s not on,” she told Sunrise.

“As I understand it, there will be a censure motion moved in the Senate … I hope [Labor] support it.”

Albanese says the revelations are concerning 10 News First – Disclaimer

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said Senator Thorpe was unfit to sit in the parliament, following the revelations of her undisclosed relationship.

“Clearly she should resign, I think [Greens leader] Adam Bandt should do that. You can’t receive briefings in the day and hang out in nice circumstances with the bikies. It doesn’t add up,” he told the Nine Network.

“It should be the first order of business for any corruption commission to look into that and probe into what might be leaked.”

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said whether Senator Thorpe should resign was a matter for the Greens, but it was a serious issue,

“It’s a big problem, it goes to their credibility,” she said.

Mr Bandt requested Senator Thorpe’s resignation from the party leadership following the revelations, which she accepted.

Her failure to disclose the relationship was a “significant lack of judgment”, Mr Bandt said.

“As leader, I expect my senators and MPs, especially those in leadership positions, to exercise good judgment,” he said on Thursday.

“At a minimum, Senator Thorpe needed to disclose to me her connection to Mr Martin and her failure to do so showed a significant lack of judgment.”

Senator Thorpe said she had accepted the mistakes she had made.

“I … have not exercised good judgment,” she said in a statement.

“I will now reflect on this and focus on my important portfolio work, especially advocating for First Nations people.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday the revelations about Senator Thorpe’s relationship were concerning.

“Australians are entitled to believe that the oversight processes over the legal system will be maintained in a way that ensures integrity and ensures that any information which is given there is kept in a confidential basis,” he said.

“I note that Senator Thorpe has said that this is an error of judgment – that is the least description that I would put to it.”

Mr Bandt said he was not aware of the revelations about Senator Thorpe’s relationship until he was contacted by the media.

“People are entitled to trust that where there are issues that affect the work of senators, all members of parliament, that they will be disclosed,” he said.

“It is disappointing because it is an error, a significant error of judgment from someone who has a lot to offer this country and a lot to offer this parliament.”

Mr Bandt said Senator Thorpe had not been involved in the justice portfolio since the May federal election.

-AAP

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