Independent senator Lidia Thorpe has questioned the effectiveness of Australia’s parliamentary watchdog after it publicly named a senator over offensive social media comments.
The Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission released its first public statement last week, identifying Victorian senator Ralph Babet as responsible for remarks it described as “offensive, disrespectful and harmful” in a social media post published in November 2024.
The commission said Babet had been sanctioned to undertake one-on-one behavioural training and agree to avoid making similar comments in future. According to the watchdog, the senator did not comply with the sanction, prompting the commission to issue a public statement.
Under the law establishing the body, the commission can publicly disclose an investigation when a parliamentarian fails to follow imposed sanctions. In cases involving more serious breaches of parliamentary standards, a decision-maker can refer the matter to a parliamentary privileges committee.
That committee has the authority to impose penalties including salary fines or the suspension of a member of parliament.
Thorpe criticised the outcome of the investigation, arguing that the process lacked transparency and did not demonstrate that the watchdog had sufficient authority to address misconduct in parliament.
Her comments were made the same day she was censured in the Senate for protesting during King Charles’s visit to Canberra.
Thorpe said stronger accountability mechanisms were required to address behaviour within parliament, particularly concerning racism and the treatment of women.
