Lidia Thorpe Net Worth 2025: From Indigenous Activist to Senate Trailblazer
Lidia Alma Thorpe stands as a fierce voice for Indigenous rights in Australian politics. Born on August 18, 1973, in Carlton, Victoria, she draws from her Gunnai, Gunditjmara, and Djab Wurrung heritage, blended with English and Irish roots, to challenge colonial legacies head-on.
Thorpe rose from public housing in Melbourne’s inner north to become the first Aboriginal woman to represent Victoria in both state parliament and the federal Senate, breaking barriers with unyielding activism.
Her journey reflects resilience amid personal hardships, including early motherhood, domestic violence, and bankruptcy, yet she channels these into advocacy for sovereignty, treaties, and justice. Thorpe quit the Australian Greens in 2023 to sit as an independent senator, amplifying the Blak Sovereign Movement while confronting figures like King Charles III.
Who is Lidia Thorpe?
Lidia Thorpe emerges as a trailblazing Aboriginal Australian politician and activist. She has served as an independent senator for Victoria since 2020, marking her as the first Aboriginal woman from that state in the federal Senate. Previously with the Greens, she resigned in February 2023 over disputes on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, leading the “progressive No” campaign against the 2023 referendum.
Thorpe champions Indigenous sovereignty, criticizing Australia’s political institutions as colonial remnants. She gained fame for bold protests, like her 2024 heckle of King Charles III in Parliament House, yelling for a treaty and accusing him of genocide. Her activism spans environmental justice, public housing, and child protection, rooted in a family legacy of Koori warriors.
She previously won the Northcote by-election in 2017, becoming Victoria’s first known Aboriginal woman parliamentarian. Thorpe’s career highlights include co-chairing the Victorian NAIDOC Committee and roles in community development, all while navigating controversies such as her 2022 Greens deputy leadership resignation amid scrutiny of a personal relationship.
Lidia Thorpe Early Life and Education Qualifications
Lidia Thorpe grew up in Housing Commission flats in Collingwood, Melbourne’s inner north, facing daily struggles that forged her toughness. Born to Roy Illingworth and Marjorie Thorpe, she endured school harassment as a “black kid” at Gold Street Primary School in Clifton Hill, Fitzroy High, and Collingwood High. Bullies targeted her heritage, prompting physical retaliation until she learned to fight with words.
She dropped out at 14 but dove into activism early, joining her uncle Robbie Thorpe at the Koori Information Centre in Fitzroy—a hotspot for Black political action. Thorpe worked nonstop, pausing only briefly after each child’s birth, building advocacy skills amid poverty. Her family shaped this path: grandmother Alma Thorpe co-founded the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service, and mother Marjorie contributed to the Stolen Generations inquiry.
Later, Thorpe pursued education, earning a Diploma of Community Development from Swinburne University in 2007 and a graduate certificate in public sector management from La Trobe University. Swinburne honored her with the 2021 Social Impact Award for community contributions. These qualifications led to roles such as project manager at East Gippsland Shire Council.
Lidia Thorpe Personal Life and Relationships
Thorpe became a single mother at 17, raising three children from short-lived relationships; by 2022, she had four grandchildren. Domestic violence scarred her early adulthood, leading to a 2013 bankruptcy with over A$700,000 in debts, including to Indigenous Business Australia and the Tax Office. She attributes this to fleeing an alcoholic ex-husband, protecting her family amid chaos; discharge came in 2016.
Her family legacy inspires: sister Meriki Onus co-founded Warriors of Aboriginal Resistance, uncle Robbie pushes sovereignty via Pay the Rent. Thorpe dated Gavan McFadzean, Australian Conservation Foundation’s climate program manager, from 2019-2022.
Controversies include a 2021 relationship with bikie ex-president Dean Martin, prompting her justice portfolio resignation, and a 2023 strip club altercation where she clashed with patrons over land theft claims.
In 2024, she recovered from a stadium assault, causing spinal injuries, which required surgery. Thorpe balances motherhood, grandmotherhood, and politics, crediting matriarchs for resilience against systemic barriers.
Lidia Thorpe’s Physical Appearance
Lidia Thorpe commands attention with her poised, athletic build, honed by sports such as Australian rules football and netball. At around 5 feet 6 inches tall, she often wears traditional possum-skin cloaks during ceremonies, paired with modern suits in Parliament, symbolizing her cultural pride. Her dark hair, strong features, and piercing gaze reflect Gunnai-Gunditjmara heritage, exuding determination seen in protests.
Lidia Thorpe’s Professional Career
Entry into Community Work
Thorpe launched her career at the Koori Information Centre, then advanced as Indigenous manager at Centrelink, project manager at East Gippsland Shire Council (2011-2013), and manager at Lake Tyers Aboriginal Training Centre. She ran Victorian Aboriginal Events Management (2010-2013) and consulted for the Australian Conservation Foundation and Central Highlands Forest Campaign. Co-chairing Victorian NAIDOC (2014-2017) amplified her leadership in Indigenous affairs.
State Politics Breakthrough
In 2017, Thorpe won Northcote’s by-election with 50.93% of the vote after preferences, becoming Victoria’s first Aboriginal woman MP. She held portfolios in Aboriginal Justice, Consumer Affairs, and Mental Health, organizing Elders’ gatherings for clan-based treaties. Despite a 2018 loss to Labor amid scandals, she continued to push for sovereignty recognition.
Federal Senate Rise and Independence
Preselected for Senate in 2020, Thorpe became Victoria’s first Aboriginal federal senator. Re-elected in 2022, she served as the Greens’ deputy leader until October. She quit in 2023 for the independence of the Black Sovereign Movement, opposing the Voice referendum. Highlights include her Black Power salute oath and her 2024 confrontation with King Charles.
Lidia Thorpe Net Worth
Lidia Thorpe’s net worth is estimated at around $3 million USD as of 2025, stemming from her Senate salary, past consulting, and event management ventures. Despite a 2013 bankruptcy stemming from domestic strife, she rebounded through political roles and awards, including Swinburne’s Social Impact honor. Assets likely include community investments, though she prioritizes activism over wealth.
| Income Source | Estimated Annual Amount (AUD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Senate Salary | $211,250 | Base pay for Australian senators as of 2025 |
| Allowances & Superannuation | $50,000 – $100,000 | Includes electorate, travel, and staffing support |
| Past Consulting & Events | Variable (pre-2017) | From Aboriginal events management and community roles |
| Total Estimated Net Worth (2025) | $1.5M – $2M | Recovered post-2013 bankruptcy; focuses on activism over assets |
Lidia Thorpe Social Media Presence
Senator Lidia Thorpe wields @SenatorThorpe on X (formerly Twitter) with 57.5K followers, posting fiery calls for truth-telling, anti-genocide stances, and sovereignty. Recent pins urge treaty demands post-ABC interviews; viral posts like “Stop. The. Fucking. Genocide.” rack up 22K likes. No prominent Instagram note, but X amplifies her Black movement voice globally.
| Platform | Handle | Followers (as of 2025) | Key Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| X (Twitter) | @SenatorThorpe | 57,500 | Sovereignty posts, protests (e.g., 22K likes on anti-genocide tweets), treaty demands |
| Limited official | N/A | Shares via news outlets like BBC; no primary page | |
| None prominent | N/A | Relies on X for amplification; occasional media shares | |
| Other | Podcasts/Interviews | N/A | National Press Club address, ABC appearances for reach |
Lidia Thorpe Interesting Facts
- First Aboriginal woman elected to Victorian Parliament in 2017 for Northcote.
- First Aboriginal senator for Victoria since 2020.
- Raised black power salute during the 2020 Senate oath in a possum-skin cloak.
- Heckled King Charles III in 2024, demanding a treaty and calling him a genocidalist.
- Led “progressive No” against the 2023 Voice referendum.
- Declared bankrupt in 2013 due to domestic violence fallout.
- Co-chaired Victorian NAIDOC Committee 2014-2017.
- Family-founded Victorian Aboriginal Health Service.
- Suspended from the Senate in 2024 for disorderly conduct toward Pauline Hanson.
- Plays Australian rules football and netball.
Lidia Thorpe Other Interesting Hobbies
Lidia Thorpe unwinds through Australian rules football and netball, sports that keep her physically active and connected to her community roots. These hobbies offer relief from Senate battles, channeling her energy into team play, much as her activism does. She also supports Pay the Rent campaigns and dawn mourning services on Australia Day, blending leisure with advocacy passion.
Final Words
Lidia Thorpe embodies an uncompromised fight for Indigenous justice, from a public housing kid to a Senate disruptor. Her path—marked by early motherhood, violence survival, and bold protests—inspires warriors worldwide. Thorpe’s demands for a treaty and sovereignty push Australia toward the truth, proving that one voice can shake colonial foundations.
She continues breaking barriers as an independent senator, facing censure yet earning “badge of honor” awards. Thorpe’s legacy urges collective action for Blak sovereignty, reminding all: resilience triumphs over adversity. Follow her journey; it fuels real change.
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