4 days ago
Defecting Greens senator Dorinda Cox pens extraordinary resignation letter
Defecting Greens senator Dorinda Cox has launched an extraordinary broadside at her ex-party, accusing it of racism on her way out the door.
In a formal resignation letter, reported by the ABC, Ms Cox said the Greens had failed her as the Party's 'last' First Nations MP.
'In my experience, the Greens tolerate a culture that permits violence against First Nations women within its structures,' she wrote in the letter.
'In this respect, the party is deeply racist.'
Ms Cox left the Party last week after a failed bid to become its deputy leader, instead defecting to join the Australian Labor Party.
In her letter Ms Cox specifically mentioned a 2023 incident at Perth Airport, which reportedly turned into a physical confrontation between Ms Cox and the former leader of the Blak Greens Tjanara Goreng Goreng.
At the time both women made reports to police about the incident.
'My reports to the party and parliamentary workplace services range from being assaulted at Perth Airport by a party member, which was ignored (indeed, I was advised not to report it to police), to incidents involving my staff who were isolated by the state and other MPs offices,' Ms Cox's letter reads.
She continued to make broad claims about the Party failing in its 'duty of care' to her and her staff, accusing the Greens of being 'solely' focused on winning seats.
Tensions have been high since Ms Cox left the party, with South Australian Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young insisting that the 'honourable' move would be for Ms Cox to hand back her seat.
At the time of her resignation newly-minted Greens Leader Larissa Waters expressed disappointment in Ms Cox's decision.
'Senator Cox would have had more chance of effecting change by continuing to work with the Greens in the sole balance of power,' Ms Waters said at the time.
'We wish her well.'
The Greens have since revoked Ms Cox's party membership.
The letter also addressed bullying allegations against Ms Cox, after it was revealed last year that a reported 20 staff had left her office over a three-year period – some over bullying complaints.
'I have faced an unremitting campaign of bullying and dishonest claims over the last 18 months,' Ms Cox wrote.
'I am not, and have never been, a bully. I do not perpetrate it.'
