Senator Lidia Thorpe has revealed she was forced to miss more than a third of parliamentary sitting this year days due to a serious assault.
Parliamentary data showed she attended 28 out of 44 sitting days and 222 out of 493 divisions this year.
Last year, she showed up to 38 out of 66 sitting days and 206 out of 558 divisions.
In defence of her absence from parliament, Thorpe revealed she was off work due to being seriously assaulted.
“Earlier this year I was assaulted at a public event,” the independent senator 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 would have preferred to keep the matter private, adding it was still under police investigation.
Thorpe was earlier this month also targeted by a neo-Nazi, who was filmed burning an Aboriginal flag and threatening her.
She added that she does not take her position in the Senate lightly and is committed to her responsibilities and duties.
“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,” she said.
She had earlier this week suggested she intentionally blundered the oath when she was sworn into the Senate, telling the ABC she referred to the late Queen Elizabeth’s “heirs” as “hairs”.
Thorpe is facing calls to resign and potential action against her over her oath admission.
Australian parliament requires each member to swear the oath of allegiance before they take their seat.
The opposition’s leader in the Senate Simon Birmingham yesterday sent a letter to Senate president Sue Lines asking her to review Thorpe’s eligibility.
A spokesperson for Lines confirmed she had received the letter but said no further details were available.
