The independent senator Lidia Thorpe has taken more unexplained days off from parliament this term than any other senator and participated in less than half of all Senate votes in that time, according to official attendance records.
The records show that in the 47th parliament, Thorpe has been absent for 11 days without obtaining leave from the Senate. Permission for leave can be sought before being absent, or afterwards, and is generally granted.
In a written statement to Guardian Australia, Thorpe said she would rectify the situation when parliament resumes.
“This isn’t an issue,” she said. “There is no time limit on seeking leave. My office will deal with this in the next parliament sitting weeks.”
Thorpe sought and was granted Senate permission for a further 40 days’ leave in the current parliament. That is second only to former senator Patrick Dodson, who took 54 official leave days while he was battling cancer.
“Despite what some say, I do not take my position in the Senate lightly,” Thorpe said. “I am committed to my responsibilities and duties as an Independent Senator, and my small team is incredibly hard-working and diligent.”
Thorpe said she had suffered an injury which affected her attendance.
“Earlier this year I was assaulted at a public event,” Thorpe’s statement said. “I sustained serious nerve and spinal injuries in my neck, which required spinal surgery and a plate to be inserted. There’s a scar on the front of my neck from this. I was ordered by the doctor not to travel and could not attend parliament after I sustained the injury and during recovery from surgery. My doctor told me to take time off work.”
Thorpe said she had only disclosed the matter publicly in response to media inquiries about her parliamentary attendance record.
“I would have preferred to keep this matter private and I will not be commenting on it further at this stage.”
Of the 1,238 divisions, or votes, held in the Senate since the 2022 election, the official data shows Thorpe has been present for just 572, or 46.2%.
There are a range of reasons senators may miss divisions – including absences from parliament due to illness, official travel or other commitments – and other senators have also missed divisions.
The Senate data does not provide reasons that votes were missed. Senators can notify the Senate that they will be absent and register their voting intentions on particular legislation, allowing them to be paired with a senator who is also absent and intending to vote the opposite way. These unofficial arrangements allow the major parties to preserve their relative voting strengths and are generally used for non-controversial legislation.
Thorpe has sometimes had other senators move motions on her behalf in her absence.
“When I haven’t been present in parliament, I have still been engaged with and following the legislative agenda, and ensuring that my voting positions are reflected in the vote outcome through pairing arrangements,” Thorpe said.
The Senate records show Queensland One Nation senator Pauline Hanson has missed seven days of parliament without leave in this term of parliament and Tasmanian independent senator Jacqui Lambie has been absent for six days.
Through a spokesperson, Hanson declined to offer any comment. Lambie’s spokesperson said she was travelling and uncontactable on Friday.
Senators from the Liberal National party, Liberal party, Country Liberal party, Labor party, Greens, One Nation, United Australia party and other independents have also taken smaller numbers of unexplained sitting days off without obtaining leave.
Of 76 senators, 44 have taken no unexplained days off.
