Greens senator Lidia Thorpe likely to avoid Senate censure over relationship with former bikie

Greens senator Lidia Thorpe will likely avoid being censured by the parliament over her secret relationship with bikie Dean Martin.

It was revealed in October that Ms Thorpe had a romantic relationship with former Rebels bikie boss, Dean Martin, while serving on a Senate committee which looked into bikie gangs.

The bombshell revelations sparked conflict of interest claims and calls from Liberal MPs and One Nation senator Pauline Hanson for her resignation.

Ms Thorpe was dumped as deputy leader of the Greens in the Senate a day after the news came to light before referring herself to the Senate privileges committee. 

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Greens senator Lidia Thorpe (pictured) will likely avoid being censured by the parliament over her relationship with bikie Dean Martin

The committee will hand down its report into the senator in early 2023 and it’s expected they will not recommend Ms Thorpe be censured, according to The Age. 

It comes two days after the controversial senator posted a photo of herself straddling a Harley Davidson motorcycle to her social media with the caption ‘ran into some old mates’.

Although the relationship with Dean Martin has now ended, according to Ms Thorpe, she said the pair still remain friends. 

The underworld figure is the brother of late Rebels bikie Shane Martin and the uncle of Richmond AFL star, Dustin Martin. 

Ms Thorpe used an encrypted messaging app to communicate with Martin and came under fire for not disclosing the relationship to Greens party leader, Adam Bandt, despite warnings from her staff to do so.

Mr Bandt has since spoken to the Australian Federal Police about the relationship. 

Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Ms Thorpe was consorting with outlaw motorcycle gang members in the photo – or at any other time.

Ms Thorpe did not identify who her ‘old mates’ were, pictured standing and grinning beside her. 

In October 2022, Ms Thorpe resigned as the Greens’ Senate deputy leader after it was revealed that she had an affair with former Rebels’ boss Dean Martin (pictured together) 

Ms Thorpe has been a popular but polarising figure since becoming the first Aboriginal woman to represent Victoria in the Senate in June 2020

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Ms Thorpe has been a popular but polarising figure in Australian politics since becoming the first Aboriginal woman to represent Victoria in the Senate in June, 2020. 

After being re-elected in May, 2022 she was forced to retake her oath of office at the swearing in ceremony when she referred to Queen Elizabeth II as ‘the colonising Queen’.

Last month, Ms Thorpe was accused of refusing to ‘accept advice’ on the Indigenous Voice to parliament amid a tense exchange with a Labor politician in the Senate.

Senator Thorpe has repeatedly lashed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s plan to enshrine an Indigenous Voice to parliament but vowed weeks ago to not campaign against the referendum that would ask Australians if they want it.