Jacqui Lambie launches legal action against Indigenous activist who questioned her heritage and said too many ‘poor whites’ are claiming to be Aboriginal

Jacqui Lambie is launching legal action against an Indigenous rights activist who questioned her Aboriginality.

The independent senator has filed a formal complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission against Michael Mansell over his repeated inferences that she is not Indigenous.

However, Mr Mansell, who claims that too many 'poor whites' claim to be Aboriginal, is not budging.

“I can't wait for the case to go before a tribunal or court,” Mansell said Australia.

“Or that Senator Lambie publicly announces her bona fides. That's all she has to do.

Jacqui Lambie (pictured with SBS presenter Karla Grant) spoke about her indigenous heritage on the show Living Black

“Senator Lambie's complaint is more about the denial of freedom of speech than her trying to claim to be Aboriginal.”

He claims Senator Lambie is 'trying to silence Aboriginal people from speaking the truth about who is Aboriginal and who is not'.

Senator Lambie, who like Mansell has Tasmanian Palawa ancestry, says his preoccupation with her heritage is “misplaced”.

“Mr Mansell has asked about my descendants which shows he has not done his homework,” Senator Lambie said.

'In my first speech in the Senate I spoke of my descent from the Aboriginal leader of Tasmania's east coast, Mannalargenna.

'In my book I also talk about my Aboriginality.'

Last year, Senator Lambie appeared on the SBS show Living Black, where she spoke about her indigenous heritage.

Indigenous rights veteran Michael Mansell insists Senator Lambie is not Indigenous

Senator Lambie's complaint to the Human Rights Commission focuses on Mr Mansell's public comments in 2022, including that “poor whites” falsely claimed to be Aboriginal.

The Commission will be asked to assess whether such comments constitute racial hatred within the meaning of the federal Racial Discrimination Act.

Mr Mansell and organizations he is associated with, including the Tasmanian Aboriginal Center and the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania, have also denied the indigenous bona fides claimed by the 8000-strong Circular Head Aboriginal Corporation.

Corporation members who claim Indigenous ancestry make up about 20 percent of the Tasmanian city Smithton.

Mr Mansell said this figure was 'nonsense'.

'Who in their right mind would believe such nonsense? Well, politicians who want to get their vote, maybe,” he said.

'Over the past five years a new group of 6,500 Aboriginal people has emerged, mainly at Circular Head. Where the hell did they come from?'

About 30,000 Tasmanians, or more than five percent of the population, identify as Indigenous.