AFP investigates Lidia Thorpe’s claim she would ‘burn down’ Parliament House

<p>Senator says her words at Melbourne pro-Gaza rally were ‘a metaphor’ and the reaction to them ‘mock outrage’ that distracts from Palestinian suffering</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/oct/13/australia-news-live-qantas-hack-data-leak-scam-warning-nsw-sydney-potholes-social-media-ban-anika-wells-albanese-sussan-ley-labor-liberal-coalition-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p></li><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>The Australian federal police has said it is investigating whether independent senator Lidia Thorpe’s claim to a pro-Palestinian rally in Melbourne that she would “burn down” Parliament House has breached legislation.</p><p>Thorpe told the rally on Sunday: “We stand with you every day, and we will fight every day, 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.”</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/oct/13/afp-investigates-lidia-thorpes-claim-she-would-burn-down-parliament-house">Continue reading...</a>