'Lost confidence': WA Greens senator defects to Labor
West Australian senator Dorinda Cox has defected from the Greens to Labor.
Senator Cox, who was first elected to the upper house in 2021 to fill a vacancy for the Greens, said her values had aligned more with Labor.
She approached Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on an offer to join Labor and bolster its ranks in the Senate.
"I've worked hard to make Australia fairer and much more reconciled, but recently, I've lost some confidence in the capacity for the Greens to assist me in being able to progress this," Senator Cox told reporters in Perth on Monday.
"I feel reassured with my experience, my skills and my knowledge I can continue to collaborate and build on the existing relationships with an already amazing team of Labor MPs across the country."
Senator Cox had previously been a member of the Labor Party before joining the Greens, and will be formally admitted into Labor on Tuesday.
Mr Albanese said Senator Cox, the first Indigenous woman to represent the state in the upper house, would be a welcome addition to the government benches.
"She wants to be part of a team that's delivering progress for this country by being a part of a government that can make decisions, to make a difference," he said.
"Dorinda Cox is someone who's a former police officer. She's someone who has a lot to offer in terms of policy development."
The senator had been accused of bullying staffers in 2024, with as many as 20 employees leaving the office in a three-year period and complaints made with parliament's workplace support service.
The prime minister said the allegations had been examined.
"They were all dealt with in Senator Cox's case and dealt with appropriately," he said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
7NEWS
30 minutes ago
- 7NEWS
Tasmania Devils release ‘concerned' statement ahead of state government's possible no-confidence motion
Tasmania Football Club has pitched its case to state parliament in a statement released ahead of a potential no-confidence motion that could derail the AFL club before it fully forms. The Devils' future is currently hanging in the balance, with a precarious state political climate in Tasmania throwing doubt over the viability of the proposed Macquarie Point Stadium — the central condition on which the AFL offered its 19th license to the Apple Isle. Tasmaniam Premier Jeremy Rockliff has copped increasing heat over his Liberal party's financial management and plans for the new AFL stadium in Hobart. The estimated cost for a new stadium recently increased from $755 million to $945 million. Labor supports the project 'unconditionally' but the Greens and several crossbench MPs are opposed. Labor Opposition Leader Dean Winter on Tuesday tabled a no-confidence motion and said he would move it for debate if enough crossbench MPs indicated their support. The motion would require the support of the Greens and three of six crossbenchers to pass. In a statement on Wednesday morning, the Devils admitted they are worried about what a no-confidence motion could mean for the club. 'The political uncertainty that is currently unfolding in the Tasmanian Parliament is of great concern to TasmaniaFootball Club,' the statement reads. 'Like the rest of the community, we are unsure what will happen today and what the impacts of any actions taken might be. 'What we do know is that uncertainty presents a serious risk for jobs, investment and growth, and for the future of Tasmania Football Club. 'Tasmania Football Club remains steadfast on building a club for all Tasmanians. 'We are also steadfast on staying out of politics. We ask that our political leaders understand the implications of their actions and decisions on the future of our state for all Tasmanians, a future which we know Tasmania Football Club can play a significant part.' The Devils have been due to come into the AFL in 2028, with the stadium situation already likely to have seen the club debut at the existing stadiums in Hobart (Bellerive Oval) and Launceston (York Park). Thursday's 2025/26 budget predicted the state's debt would more than double to $10.8 billion in four years' time with deficits each year, under Rockliff's plans. The Liberals, who have been in power since 2014, are governing in minority with just 14 of 35 seats in the lower house. The Greens, who have moved no-confidence motions in the past, have said they'll discuss Labor's motion. Independent MP Kristie Johnston said she would back the motion, and Jacqui Lambie Network MP Andrew Jenner said he would be 'quite happy' to support it. Independent MP and former Labor leader David O'Byrne said he would consider any no-confidence motion if one is moved, but criticised his former party for not consulting the crossbench before making the announcement. Independents Miriam Beswick and Rebekah Pentland do not support Labor's motion, saying it would trigger a 'political crisis'. Independent Craig Garland has been contacted for comment. If a no-confidence motion against Rockliff was successful, convention dictates he resign. The move represents a shift from Labor, which has previously voted with the Liberals to nip no-confidence motions in the bud. Winter was critical of the Premier 'wrecking' the budget, his plan to sell state assets and delays and cost blowouts to the delivery of new Bass Strait ferries. 'My message is to the crossbench,' he said. 'If they really are opposed to this Premier's agenda of debt, deficit and debacle — as they claim — then tell the house you have lost confidence in this Premier.' Rockliff said Labor's motion had been tabled in a nasty and bullying way. The Liberals were re-elected in March 2024 but suffered a swing of 12 per cent against them. Stream free on
The Age
31 minutes ago
- The Age
WA news LIVE: Western Australia's emissions continue to rise; Rottnest rebates for school kids
Western Australia's carbon emissions continue to rise, according to the latest data from Australia's national greenhouse accounts. According to the data for 2023 – the latest available – WA pumped 89.37 million tonnes of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere in that year. More than 90 per cent of those emissions comes from the burning of fossil fuels across sectors including electricity generation, the oil and gas sector and transport. WA's figure is nearly equal to the state's worst year in history 2010 when it emitted 89.64 million tonnes of pollution and represents a continued rise in the state's emmissions after recording 85.97 million tonnes in 2022. Nationally, Australia's emissions have also edged slightly higher from 397.06 million tonnes to 397.98 million tonnes, driven by WA's increase as well as increases in New South Wales and Queensland. WA Greens leader Brad Pettitt said the data reinforced what we already knew; Western Australia is the climate change capital of Australia. 'WA's emissions have continued to rise under Labor in the critical decade for climate action, peaking again in 2023 at 89 million tonnes, equal to their all-time high in 2019 and almost 17 per cent above 2005 levels,' he said. 'What's even more concerning is that WA's emissions are set to continue rising to 2030 and maybe even beyond because the Cook Labor government has no serious plan to decarbonise our economy. 'This decade – between now and 2030 - is when we need to substantially reduce emissions if we are to keep warming under 1.5 degrees. The Cook Labor government is abjectly failing on this key global commitment.' Premier Roger Cook has in the past acknowledged WA's emmissions would likely rise over the next decade or so because of the state's continued path of approving fossil fuel projects, which he said would help decarbonise other nations. 'I obviously speak to the gas companies, I speak to their customers, and their customers have said very clearly...'we want to get from 39 per cent profile of coal-fired power in our grid down to 19 per cent. The only way we can do that is by utilising gas',' he said. The data comes as environmental groups ramp up their protests over the Commonwealth's decision last week to approve the 40-year extension of the North West Shelf gas project. The Conservation Council of WA is holding a snap protest outside the Commonwealth government offices while the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is in Perth for a cabinet meeting. 'At the recent election, Australians voted for climate action. They did not vote for Peter Dutton's 'bucket loads of gas' and a fast-tracked approval for the North West Shelf,' CCWA director Matt Roberts said. 'Labor's mandate does not extend to paving the way for more gas and climate chaos or a reckless approval for the North West Shelf.'
The Age
31 minutes ago
- The Age
‘Great concern': Future of Tassie Devils at risk amid political turmoil
Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff is facing a no-confidence motion after increasing heat over his party's financial management and plans for a new AFL stadium in Hobart. The state Liberal premier's grip on power appears to be sliding, with Labor ready to pull the trigger on a no-confidence motion on Wednesday morning if it has the parliamentary numbers. The Tasmania Football Club, known as the Devils, has expressed 'great concern' over the political uncertainty enveloping the Tasmanian government. 'The political uncertainty that is currently unfolding in the Tasmanian Parliament is of great concern to Tasmania Football Club,' Tasmania Football Club said in a statement on social media. 'Like the rest of the community, we are unsure what will happen today and what the impacts of any actions taken might be. What we do know is that uncertainty presents a serious risk for jobs, investment and growth, and for the future of Tasmania Football Club. 'Tasmania Football Club remains steadfast on building a club for all Tasmanians. We are also steadfast on staying out of politics. We ask that our political leaders understand the implications of their actions and decisions on the future of our state for all Tasmanians, a future which we know Tasmania Football Club can play a significant part.' Last week's Tasmanian state budget predicted debt would more than double to $10.8 billion in four years' time with deficits each year. The Liberals, who have been in power since 2014, are governing with a minority of just 14 of 35 seats in the lower house.
