Senator Lidia Thorpe has welcomed the Mardi Gras organisers decision to uninvite the NSW Police to the event, and called on the Albanese government to lead on establishing a strong national police oversight and accountability framework.
The Gunnai Gunditjmara and Djab Wurrung senator said until Police departments nationwide submit to "strong, independent scrutiny and accountability", they'll have no place participating in LGTQIA+ or in First Nations community events.
The decision to withdraw the invitation comes after police officer Beau Lamarre, who was cleared following an internal investigation after he tasered a First Nations man in the face three years ago, allegedly murdered Jesse Baird and Luke Davies with a police-issued firearm.
Senator Thorpe noted on Tuesday that internal police investigations are not adequate for police accountability.
"I welcome the decision to keep police out of Mardi Gras, which comes after years of campaigning by the community," she said.
"But until police are subjected to real scrutiny and accountability, they won't be welcome to wave our flags or march in our parades and rallies. We need accountability and justice, not more empty apologies and hollow gestures.
"For decades, Queer and Black people have been brutalised and murdered by police, and this continues unchecked every day."
Many advocates have noted that Pride and Mardis Gras marches around the world began as a protest movement against police brutality, and the long history of homophobic police violence.
Many have also noted the notoriety of New South Wales police in the 1970s and 1980s refusing to investigate the murder of gay men in the state, with some theorising that police were responsible for a number of the killings.
Senator Thorpe said there is "a shocking lack of standards and accountability within police departments across this country".
"This means violent aggressors – many racist and homophobic – are given a badge, a gun and the permission to act with impunity against our communities," she said.
"Far too often we've seen cops get off with less than a slap on the wrist for discrimination, brutal acts of violence or even murder.
"This is more than a few bad apples, this is a serious problem with police departments nationwide. And cops investigating cops will never begin to improve the systemic racism, homophobia and culture of impunity we see in policing."
Senator Thorpe noted the evidence presented this week to the Kumanjayi Walker coronial inquest by former police officer Zacahry Rolfe – who fatally shot the young Indigenous man – which detailed a culture of racism in the NT police, describing it as "just the latest evidence of a broad culture of impunity within police departments nationwide".
The independent senator for Victoria said there is a need for strong independent oversight bodies in every state that can apply serious penalties on police who do the wrong thing.
"I'm standing in solidarity with the queer community today and every day against ongoing discrimination and violence that police across this country continue to perpetuate with impunity against the LBGTQI+ community and First Peoples," she said.
"The Attorney General Mark Dreyfus should convene state and territory Attorney's General to review and strengthen police accountability standards in this country.
"I extend my condolences and solidarity to those grieving loved ones at this time – I'm fighting with you for justice."
