Senator Lidia Thorpe has renewed her criticism of the cost of a Labor Party business event in Sydney featuring Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy, arguing the minister has got her priorities wrong.

The Independent Senator first raised concerns about the $4,000-a-head afternoon tea, held on Thursday, in the Senate last month, arguing it would give "corporate bigwigs" privileged access to the minister. Her comments followed a Sydney Morning Herald report which indicated the event was one of several Labor functions charging large sums for access to senior MPs.

On Thursday, the independent senator repeated her call for the event — which ultimately proceeded as scheduled — to be cancelled.

She said the function showed the minister's priorities were misplaced, pointing to Senator McCarthy's office not responding to questions about a lack of transparency surrounding police handling of the death in custody of Kumanjayi White.

"We have to question who Labor really works for, given what we've seen this week from the Minister for Indigenous Australians," Senator Thorpe said. "Access to decision-makers shouldn't go to the highest bidder; it should go to those most in need."

Senator McCarthy was contacted by National Indigenous Times for comment but did not reply by deadline.

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In Senate questioning last month, Senator Thorpe noted the $4,000 ticket price was "just below the disclosure threshold" as she pressed Senator McCarthy on the event.

Senator McCarthy, who has served as Minister for Indigenous Australians since Linda Burney stood down in 2024, said she would be "very pleased" to attend the gathering, "in terms of meeting stakeholders" in New South Wales.

"I think it's really important to move beyond the areas that I know really well in terms of Northern Australia to have some time with stakeholders... I think it's certainly important to be able to do that," she said.

When Senator Thorpe asked whether she would use the time set aside for the "lobbyist meeting to instead meet with some of the many grassroots administrations and mob who are waiting to meet with you," Senator McCarthy replied: "I think that's a really grubby imputation of your question."

"I certainly meet with as many stakeholders as possible, not just here in Canberra but right across the country," the minister said. "And, if I can't meet personally, I try to meet online or with phone calls. My staff are very diligent in trying to reach out to everyone who contacts my office, and I do appreciate the work of my team."

On Thursday, Senator Thorpe pointed to the open letter calling for an urgent youth justice summit, as well as the Northern Territory Police's failure to inform Kumanjayi White's family that an "independent" review into the use of force in his death in custody investigation had been completed, as examples where "we have seen no comment from the Minister".

The report — which National Indigenous Times revealed had been delivered to NT Police by an unnamed interstate police force without the family being notified — remains secret despite criticism from the family, lawyers and human rights groups. The ABC reported the minister's office did not respond to requests for comment on the story.

"The Minister should be doing everything she can to support the family [of Kumanjayi White], ensure they are respected and kept informed. She should be out there today advocating for the release of this report," Senator Thorpe said.

Referring to the open letter, which the government appeared to reject on the basis that only states and territories can influence justice settings — despite legal advice to the contrary — the Victorian Senator said the government should be listening to experts and community voices.

Instead of attending today's event, she argued Senator McCarthy should be "working with families who are calling for answers and doing everything she can to push for justice".

"The response from the federal government this week simply is not good enough, and it points to a culture in Labor that prioritises donors over everyday people," she said.