Three charged over weapons

New Greens senator in pledge to pursue treaty

THREE Sydney men have been charged with more than 70 offences after an investigation into the alleged possession of illegal military-style guns by a group with suspected extremist ideology.

The trio, aged 26, 29, and 30, were due to face a Sydney bail court yesterday after their arrest on Friday.

Police seized 14 weapons over the course of the fivemonth investigation including an MK-15 assault rifle, a pumpaction shotgun and a 9mm Glock pistol. Two banana magazines and 523 rounds of ammunition were also found.

ABORIGINAL activist Lidia Thorpe will make getting a treaty off the ground one of her key aims when she enters federal parliament as a Greens senator.

Ms Thorpe, a GunaiKurnai/ Gunditjmara woman, was named as the new Greens senator for Victoria following a statewide ballot of members.

A Victorian state MP, Ms Thorpe will be sworn into federal parliament in coming months to fill the casual vacancy left by the former Greens leader Richard Di Natale, who has retired from politics.

Party leader Adam Bandt said yesterday he was “absolutely thrilled” by Ms Thorpe’s election. “Lidia is exactly what politics in Australia needs at the moment,” he said.

“I have worked with Lidia for many years and have seen her get things done and give a voice to the people that politics is leaving behind.”

He said as the first Aboriginal woman elected to Victorian parliament she has won renters rights, forestry protections and LGBTIQ support and has an “incredible track record of fighting for change”.