'Serious test' for Greens as senator defects to Labor
West Australian senator Dorinda Cox is quitting the minor party to sit with Labor in the upper house after approaching Anthony Albanese about making the switch.
Head of Politics at Monash University Zareh Ghazarian said the loss of another Indigenous senator, following Lidia Thorpe's split with the party in February 2023, spoke to the Greens themselves as a party.
"This is the most serious test that the Greens are facing as an organisation," he said.
"On the back of a fairly poor election result ... it's really an opportunity for them (Greens) to explore their internal operation, their structures, and how they get them going forward."
Dr Ghazarian said the strong growth in support the party had enjoyed came with the challenge of clarifying what it stood for.
Mr Albanese, who said Senator Cox's values had become more aligned with those of his government, noted the Greens had previously voted against Labor's legislation to boost housing supply and had drifted from their environmental foundations.
"She has come to the view that the Greens political party are not capable of achieving the change that she wants to see in public life, and that's not surprising given that the Greens have lost their way," he told reporters in Perth.
Senator Cox, who announced her defection on Monday, will be formally appointed to the Labor Party on Tuesday.
The shock announcement represents another setback for the minor party after it lost former leader Adam Bandt when three of its four lower house seats fell to Labor at the election.
Greens leader Larissa Waters said she had a "calm and measured" conversation with Senator Cox an hour before her press conference.
"There's no animosity there. It's obviously disappointing for us to lose a Greens senator, but Dorinda has said her values lie there," she told ABC News Breakfast.
However, Senator Waters appeared to question this while pointing to Labor's decision to extend the North West Shelf gas project off the WA coast, which she said would impact ancient Indigenous rock art.
"We've opposed that, but Senator Cox has made her decision that that party is a better fit for her, and we wish her nothing but the best," she said.
Senator Cox, a Yamatji-Noongar woman, became the first Indigenous woman to represent WA in the Senate when she joined the upper house in 2021 to fill a Greens vacancy.
In 2024, she suggested Labor was "not interested" in closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
But on Monday, Senator Cox said she felt her values and priorities were better aligned with Labor than the Greens.
She was not required to run in the May election after winning a six-year term in 2022.
Senator Cox was accused of bullying Greens staffers in 2024, with as many as 20 employees leaving in three years and complaints made to parliament's workplace support service.
Mr Albanese said the allegations had been examined.
Labor will still require the support of either the Greens or the coalition in the Senate to pass legislation.
The Greens are facing their "most serious test" as a party following the defection of a senator to Labor after a poor federal election result.
West Australian senator Dorinda Cox is quitting the minor party to sit with Labor in the upper house after approaching Anthony Albanese about making the switch.
Head of Politics at Monash University Zareh Ghazarian said the loss of another Indigenous senator, following Lidia Thorpe's split with the party in February 2023, spoke to the Greens themselves as a party.
"This is the most serious test that the Greens are facing as an organisation," he said.
"On the back of a fairly poor election result ... it's really an opportunity for them (Greens) to explore their internal operation, their structures, and how they get them going forward."
Dr Ghazarian said the strong growth in support the party had enjoyed came with the challenge of clarifying what it stood for.
Mr Albanese, who said Senator Cox's values had become more aligned with those of his government, noted the Greens had previously voted against Labor's legislation to boost housing supply and had drifted from their environmental foundations.
"She has come to the view that the Greens political party are not capable of achieving the change that she wants to see in public life, and that's not surprising given that the Greens have lost their way," he told reporters in Perth.
Senator Cox, who announced her defection on Monday, will be formally appointed to the Labor Party on Tuesday.
The shock announcement represents another setback for the minor party after it lost former leader Adam Bandt when three of its four lower house seats fell to Labor at the election.
Greens leader Larissa Waters said she had a "calm and measured" conversation with Senator Cox an hour before her press conference.
"There's no animosity there. It's obviously disappointing for us to lose a Greens senator, but Dorinda has said her values lie there," she told ABC News Breakfast.
However, Senator Waters appeared to question this while pointing to Labor's decision to extend the North West Shelf gas project off the WA coast, which she said would impact ancient Indigenous rock art.
"We've opposed that, but Senator Cox has made her decision that that party is a better fit for her, and we wish her nothing but the best," she said.
Senator Cox, a Yamatji-Noongar woman, became the first Indigenous woman to represent WA in the Senate when she joined the upper house in 2021 to fill a Greens vacancy.
In 2024, she suggested Labor was "not interested" in closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
But on Monday, Senator Cox said she felt her values and priorities were better aligned with Labor than the Greens.
She was not required to run in the May election after winning a six-year term in 2022.
Senator Cox was accused of bullying Greens staffers in 2024, with as many as 20 employees leaving in three years and complaints made to parliament's workplace support service.
Mr Albanese said the allegations had been examined.
Labor will still require the support of either the Greens or the coalition in the Senate to pass legislation.
The Greens are facing their "most serious test" as a party following the defection of a senator to Labor after a poor federal election result.
West Australian senator Dorinda Cox is quitting the minor party to sit with Labor in the upper house after approaching Anthony Albanese about making the switch.
Head of Politics at Monash University Zareh Ghazarian said the loss of another Indigenous senator, following Lidia Thorpe's split with the party in February 2023, spoke to the Greens themselves as a party.
"This is the most serious test that the Greens are facing as an organisation," he said.
"On the back of a fairly poor election result ... it's really an opportunity for them (Greens) to explore their internal operation, their structures, and how they get them going forward."
Dr Ghazarian said the strong growth in support the party had enjoyed came with the challenge of clarifying what it stood for.
Mr Albanese, who said Senator Cox's values had become more aligned with those of his government, noted the Greens had previously voted against Labor's legislation to boost housing supply and had drifted from their environmental foundations.
"She has come to the view that the Greens political party are not capable of achieving the change that she wants to see in public life, and that's not surprising given that the Greens have lost their way," he told reporters in Perth.
Senator Cox, who announced her defection on Monday, will be formally appointed to the Labor Party on Tuesday.
The shock announcement represents another setback for the minor party after it lost former leader Adam Bandt when three of its four lower house seats fell to Labor at the election.
Greens leader Larissa Waters said she had a "calm and measured" conversation with Senator Cox an hour before her press conference.
"There's no animosity there. It's obviously disappointing for us to lose a Greens senator, but Dorinda has said her values lie there," she told ABC News Breakfast.
However, Senator Waters appeared to question this while pointing to Labor's decision to extend the North West Shelf gas project off the WA coast, which she said would impact ancient Indigenous rock art.
"We've opposed that, but Senator Cox has made her decision that that party is a better fit for her, and we wish her nothing but the best," she said.
Senator Cox, a Yamatji-Noongar woman, became the first Indigenous woman to represent WA in the Senate when she joined the upper house in 2021 to fill a Greens vacancy.
In 2024, she suggested Labor was "not interested" in closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
But on Monday, Senator Cox said she felt her values and priorities were better aligned with Labor than the Greens.
She was not required to run in the May election after winning a six-year term in 2022.
Senator Cox was accused of bullying Greens staffers in 2024, with as many as 20 employees leaving in three years and complaints made to parliament's workplace support service.
Mr Albanese said the allegations had been examined.
Labor will still require the support of either the Greens or the coalition in the Senate to pass legislation.
The Greens are facing their "most serious test" as a party following the defection of a senator to Labor after a poor federal election result.
West Australian senator Dorinda Cox is quitting the minor party to sit with Labor in the upper house after approaching Anthony Albanese about making the switch.
Head of Politics at Monash University Zareh Ghazarian said the loss of another Indigenous senator, following Lidia Thorpe's split with the party in February 2023, spoke to the Greens themselves as a party.
"This is the most serious test that the Greens are facing as an organisation," he said.
"On the back of a fairly poor election result ... it's really an opportunity for them (Greens) to explore their internal operation, their structures, and how they get them going forward."
Dr Ghazarian said the strong growth in support the party had enjoyed came with the challenge of clarifying what it stood for.
Mr Albanese, who said Senator Cox's values had become more aligned with those of his government, noted the Greens had previously voted against Labor's legislation to boost housing supply and had drifted from their environmental foundations.
"She has come to the view that the Greens political party are not capable of achieving the change that she wants to see in public life, and that's not surprising given that the Greens have lost their way," he told reporters in Perth.
Senator Cox, who announced her defection on Monday, will be formally appointed to the Labor Party on Tuesday.
The shock announcement represents another setback for the minor party after it lost former leader Adam Bandt when three of its four lower house seats fell to Labor at the election.
Greens leader Larissa Waters said she had a "calm and measured" conversation with Senator Cox an hour before her press conference.
"There's no animosity there. It's obviously disappointing for us to lose a Greens senator, but Dorinda has said her values lie there," she told ABC News Breakfast.
However, Senator Waters appeared to question this while pointing to Labor's decision to extend the North West Shelf gas project off the WA coast, which she said would impact ancient Indigenous rock art.
"We've opposed that, but Senator Cox has made her decision that that party is a better fit for her, and we wish her nothing but the best," she said.
Senator Cox, a Yamatji-Noongar woman, became the first Indigenous woman to represent WA in the Senate when she joined the upper house in 2021 to fill a Greens vacancy.
In 2024, she suggested Labor was "not interested" in closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
But on Monday, Senator Cox said she felt her values and priorities were better aligned with Labor than the Greens.
She was not required to run in the May election after winning a six-year term in 2022.
Senator Cox was accused of bullying Greens staffers in 2024, with as many as 20 employees leaving in three years and complaints made to parliament's workplace support service.
Mr Albanese said the allegations had been examined.
Labor will still require the support of either the Greens or the coalition in the Senate to pass legislation.
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Labor's last period in government finished in 2014. I previously covered the August 11-16 federal Resolve poll that gave Labor a 59-41 lead. In additional questions, respondents supported a legislated right to work from home at least two days a week by 64-17 if an employee's job allows this. By 66-13, respondents supported a four-day week if an employee did the same work they would have over five days. Victorian and Queensland state Resolve polls both show Labor rebounding from big deficits to now lead. In Tasmania, Josh Willie from the left faction replaces Dean Winter as Labor leader. A Victorian state Resolve poll for The Age, conducted with the federal July and August Resolve polls from a sample more than 1,000, gave the Coalition 33% of the primary vote (down eight since March), Labor 32% (up eight), the Greens 12% (down two), independents 9% (down five) and others 13% (up six). Resolve doesn't usually give a two-party estimate for its state polls, but The Poll Bludger estimated a Labor lead by about 53-47. Labor had been far behind in March. Despite the big gain for Labor on voting intentions, Liberal leader Brad Battin led Labor incumbent Jacinta Allan by 32-25 as preferred premier (36-23 in March). This measure normally favours the incumbent more than voting intentions. Battin's lead may indicate that Labor's recovery is mostly due to the federal election result. The Age's article said Labor's primary vote was 30% in July, before Allan announced her working from home policy, and it improved to 34% in August. A national Resolve poll had voters supporting working from home at least two days a week by 64-17. Allan's net likeability surged 11 points, but is still at -21. This poll agrees with late June Newspoll and Redbridge polls in giving Labor a lead in Victoria. The next Victorian state election is not due until November 2026. While Labor has rebounded, they could fall back if voters focus more on state issues or if federal Labor's popularity subsides. By the next election, Labor will have governed Victoria for the last 12 years, and 23 of the last 27 years, so the Liberals should benefit from an "it's time" factor. However, the Liberals have their own problems with internal divisions. A Queensland state Resolve poll for The Brisbane Times, conducted in July and August from a sample of 869, gave the Liberal National Party (LNP) 34% of the primary vote (down 11 since the January to April Resolve poll), Labor 32% (up ten), the Greens 10% (down two), One Nation 8% (steady), independents 8% (up one) and others 7% (up one). Analyst Kevin Bonham estimated there would be a very narrow Labor lead after preferences. LNP premier David Crisafulli's net likeability was up two points to +20, as this was question last asked before the LNP won the October 2024 election. Labor leader Steven Miles, who was premier before the election, improved his net likeability 12 points to -1. Crisafulli led by 40-25 as preferred premier (44-22 in January to April). Unlike Victoria, other recent Queensland polls disagree with Resolve. Early July Queensland polls from Redbridge and DemosAU gave the LNP a 55-45 or 56-44 lead. On Tuesday, Labor failed to gain support for its no-confidence motion in the Tasmanian Liberal government from any non-Labor MP, despite the five Greens and four of six others being left-leaning. With Labor losing the July 19 election, the party leadership was spilled. On Wednesday, Josh Willie from the left faction replaced Dean Winter as Tasmanian Labor leader after a long meeting of Labor's 10 state MPs. Officially this was unanimous to avoid a membership ballot, with Winter stepping aside. The ABC said many MPs wanted Winter to remain leader, but party members would have likely strongly favoured Willie. If Labor wants to return to government soon, Willie will need to repair Labor's relationship with the Greens and left-leaning independents. Labor's last period in government finished in 2014. I previously covered the August 11-16 federal Resolve poll that gave Labor a 59-41 lead. In additional questions, respondents supported a legislated right to work from home at least two days a week by 64-17 if an employee's job allows this. By 66-13, respondents supported a four-day week if an employee did the same work they would have over five days. Victorian and Queensland state Resolve polls both show Labor rebounding from big deficits to now lead. In Tasmania, Josh Willie from the left faction replaces Dean Winter as Labor leader. A Victorian state Resolve poll for The Age, conducted with the federal July and August Resolve polls from a sample more than 1,000, gave the Coalition 33% of the primary vote (down eight since March), Labor 32% (up eight), the Greens 12% (down two), independents 9% (down five) and others 13% (up six). Resolve doesn't usually give a two-party estimate for its state polls, but The Poll Bludger estimated a Labor lead by about 53-47. Labor had been far behind in March. Despite the big gain for Labor on voting intentions, Liberal leader Brad Battin led Labor incumbent Jacinta Allan by 32-25 as preferred premier (36-23 in March). This measure normally favours the incumbent more than voting intentions. Battin's lead may indicate that Labor's recovery is mostly due to the federal election result. The Age's article said Labor's primary vote was 30% in July, before Allan announced her working from home policy, and it improved to 34% in August. A national Resolve poll had voters supporting working from home at least two days a week by 64-17. Allan's net likeability surged 11 points, but is still at -21. This poll agrees with late June Newspoll and Redbridge polls in giving Labor a lead in Victoria. The next Victorian state election is not due until November 2026. While Labor has rebounded, they could fall back if voters focus more on state issues or if federal Labor's popularity subsides. By the next election, Labor will have governed Victoria for the last 12 years, and 23 of the last 27 years, so the Liberals should benefit from an "it's time" factor. However, the Liberals have their own problems with internal divisions. A Queensland state Resolve poll for The Brisbane Times, conducted in July and August from a sample of 869, gave the Liberal National Party (LNP) 34% of the primary vote (down 11 since the January to April Resolve poll), Labor 32% (up ten), the Greens 10% (down two), One Nation 8% (steady), independents 8% (up one) and others 7% (up one). Analyst Kevin Bonham estimated there would be a very narrow Labor lead after preferences. LNP premier David Crisafulli's net likeability was up two points to +20, as this was question last asked before the LNP won the October 2024 election. Labor leader Steven Miles, who was premier before the election, improved his net likeability 12 points to -1. Crisafulli led by 40-25 as preferred premier (44-22 in January to April). Unlike Victoria, other recent Queensland polls disagree with Resolve. Early July Queensland polls from Redbridge and DemosAU gave the LNP a 55-45 or 56-44 lead. On Tuesday, Labor failed to gain support for its no-confidence motion in the Tasmanian Liberal government from any non-Labor MP, despite the five Greens and four of six others being left-leaning. With Labor losing the July 19 election, the party leadership was spilled. On Wednesday, Josh Willie from the left faction replaced Dean Winter as Tasmanian Labor leader after a long meeting of Labor's 10 state MPs. Officially this was unanimous to avoid a membership ballot, with Winter stepping aside. The ABC said many MPs wanted Winter to remain leader, but party members would have likely strongly favoured Willie. If Labor wants to return to government soon, Willie will need to repair Labor's relationship with the Greens and left-leaning independents. Labor's last period in government finished in 2014. I previously covered the August 11-16 federal Resolve poll that gave Labor a 59-41 lead. In additional questions, respondents supported a legislated right to work from home at least two days a week by 64-17 if an employee's job allows this. By 66-13, respondents supported a four-day week if an employee did the same work they would have over five days.
