Vocal senator Lidia Thorpe walks out on Greens

LIDIA Thorpe has sensationally quit the Greens and will sit as an independent in a move she says will finally give voice to the “Black sovereign movement”.

Greens leader Adam Bandt said he had tried “very hard” to convince the Victorian to stay, and had offered her a chance to speak independent of the party.

He said that while he was “very sad” to see her leave the party, he ultimately respected her decision.

The controversial senator, who is not up for re-election until 2028, confirmed her defection during a snap press conference at Parliament House in Canberra on Monday afternoon.

“This country has a strong grassroots Black sovereign movement, full of staunch and committed warriors, and I want to represent that movement fully,” she said.

“It has become clear to me that I can’t do that from within the Greens.”

The senator (pictured) – who was the minor party’s spokesperson for Indigenous Australians – said she would now be able to “speak freely” without being constrained by “agreed party positions” – alluding to the government’s proposed Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

The Greens have not reached a final party position but were expected to support the Voice to Parliament, while Senator Thorpe has been critical of the body, saying she wants guarantees it will not cede First Nations sovereignty.

Despite seemingly quitting the party over the voice, the Victorian told reporters she would not announce her position on the referendum at this time.

“I want to continue my negotiations with the government, First Nations sovereignty is crucial but so is saving lives today,” Senator Thorpe said.

“They could do that by implementing the royal commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody and the recommendations from the Bringing Them Home report.”