According to a letter of complaint Ms Atkinson sent to Senate President Scott Ryan and the Greens leader Adam Bandt,Senator Thorpe began the meeting by telling Ms Atkinson they were not friends and that she did not respect her,accusing her of holding high-paid roles in organisations that did not benefit the Indigenous community.
The letter also contains allegations that Senator Thorpe criticised the prominent Bamblett family,of which Ms Atkinson is a member,saying they had “always tried to undermine her and bring her down”,and that she suggested Ms Atkinson was involved in corrupt Aboriginal organisations.
“When I tried to intervene to respond,Senator Thorpe spoke over the top of me in a highly aggressive tone,repeatedly stating,‘I am an Australian senator. You are in my meeting.’ I interpreted this as her using her position to try to intimidate me,” Ms Atkinson,aged in her 70s,said in the letter.
Loading
Ms Atkinson sought treatment from the parliamentary nurse,who believed she was suffering symptoms of trauma. She ordinarily has low blood pressure but her blood pressure was raised.
Senator Thorpe toldThe Age the “robust discussion” was a result of substantive disagreement on the structure of Victoria’s treaty program,which was launched in 2018 and would be the first state-based agreement of its kind.
“We enter Parliament not to make friends but to get results for our people. Throughout this meeting I voiced concerns from my constituents,many of whom are deeply worried about how the assembly has managed elements of the treaty process,” Senator Thorpe said.