Lidia Thorpe is the ‘ugly side of politics’

LNP Senator James McGrath says Lidia Thorpe is the “ugly side of politics”, after the Greens Senator hurled abuse at police officers and called them “criminals”.

It came as Ms Thorpe and a small number of people gathered outside Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation on Tuesday to protest against the removal of a dozen asylum seekers in Victoria.

Mr McGrath said Ms Thorpe is “someone who uses race to divide people, someone who is on the extreme left”.

“I do feel sorry for the police, I do feel sorry for those who are protecting law and order in this country against the extreme left,” he told Sky News host Chris Kenny.