Victorian Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe accused Virgin Australia staff of profiling her racist while waiting for a plane to take off at Canberra airport late last year.
Key points:
- Senator Thorpe says she was a victim of racist profiling and that she “[doesn’t] think that happened to a white woman “
- The airline says it is investigating a complaint by Senator Thorpe and that it takes diversity and inclusion seriously
- Senator Thorpe also promotes a new online tool for First Nations Australians to report racism
Senator Thorpe told ABC’s RN Breakfast program that she was waiting in the express queue to arrive on her flight from the national capital in December, but after seven minutes could not continue to board the plane.
Senator Thorpe, a Gunnai-Gunditjmara woman and the first Aboriginal senator from Victoria, said she was ignored by Virgin Australia staff.
She said that after a while she noticed that the passengers had been processed by the general queue for the rest of the airports and so connected on that line, in the hope of being able to board.
But even then, she said, she experienced difficulties.
“I then went to the … writing, where I was told my handbag was over [weight]which contained my parliamentary iPad and cell phones, and was asked to take out my water bottle, take out my denim jacket, which I did.
“And you got me told it was still over [weight]and …. I did not know what to do. “
The senator said she was told she had to leave something behind, and as she said she could not, airline staff called security.
Senator Thorpe said she was able to catch a Qantas flight home to Victoria later in the day, but she did not forget her experience with Virgin.
“I do not think this would have happened to a white woman,” she said.
In a statement to ABC, Virgin Australia said it was not able to comment in relation to the specific incident but that it was aware a complaint was being made.
The airline said that the day Senator Thorpe tried to board their plane, they were experiencing “major disruptions” due to check-in delays caused by an airport baggage system malfunction.
“The allegations are counter-cultural to our organization and are being thoroughly investigated. Virgin Australia will respond privately in due course.”
Online register to report racism launched
Senator Thorpe spoke about her experience with the airline while promoting a new First Nations service to report incidents of racism.
The Call It Out Register is an online reporting system that aims to illustrate the true nature of racism and how it is experienced across Australia.
Reports on racism and discrimination made in the register are collected and analyzed by the Jumbunna Institute, and will provide an annual report.
Those behind the register said the results were published as part of an effort to raise awareness and bring about systematic change.
Senator Thorpe said her experience was just one of many that were experienced daily by colors in Australia.
She admitted that there could be an innocent explanation for what happened, but said she wanted to get an explanation from the airline.
“How they felt about me and how I was completely disrespected, I would like an explanation around that,” she said.
She said she hoped something positive would happen from what happened.
“I’m happy to work with both of them [Canberra Airport and Virgin Airways] to see what happened and how we can create a safe space for people of color if they go into this environment, “she said.
“We need to stop systemic racism and all forms of racism in this country because it is a disease and makes people sick.”
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