Latest news with #Yamatji-Noongar
The Advertiser
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
'Serious test' for Greens as senator defects to Labor
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. 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.
Sky News AU
3 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
2GB radio host claims ex Greens Dorinda Cox 'notorious bully' and questions 'arrangement' with Anthony Albanese after defecting to Labor
A talkback radio station host has accused Senator Dorinda Cox of being a "notorious bully" and raised questions about her defection from the Greens. The Western Australian politician announced on Monday she is leaving the minor party and joining Labor over perceived extremism by its deputy, according to sources. Senator Cox said she is "very, very grateful" for the opportunity offered by Labor and has spoken to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese about her future role in the party. However, 2GB radio host Ben Fordham on Tuesday questioned the "very murky arrangement" and accused the Greens defector of being a "notorious bully". According to a Nine Newspapers report in 2024, 20 staff had quit their roles in her office in the space of three years with a number of women speaking out against Senator Cox. Aunty Esther Montgomery - who worked as a community liaison in the politician's office - claimed she was repeatedly undermined and was not allowed out to meet people. "She wouldn't allow me to collaborate with people on grassroots work. She would put me down, psychologically ... She's no shrinking violet," she said. Another complaint made to the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service claimed she had witnessed "disturbing behaviour" towards her and other workers. "These experiences made me concerned for my safety and for the safety of others in the office, I spent much of the time feeling like I was walking on eggshells just waiting for Dorinda to explode at me,' the complaint provided to the SMH read. Fordham - who read out the details of the allegations on Tuesday morning - claimed Senator Cox had "became a record holder on HR complaints". Mr Albanese was asked on Monday about the bullying allegations that had been levelled, saying the "issues were dealt with appropriately" after an examination by his team and that her "values are perfectly consistent with the values of the Labor Party". The 2GB host argued that was not the case. "What? Twenty staff members left her in three years, PM. One was even suicidal," Fordham said, adding those who complained raised issues about a "hostile culture". "The workers complained about a hostile culture, several lodged formal complaints, they raised the alarm with the Greens leader (Adam Bandt at the time), they made their concerns clear to the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service." Fordham went on to claim it is a "very murky arrangement". Senator Cox - a Yamatji-Noongar woman - was running for a leadership position just weeks earlier after Mr Bandt lost his Melbourne seat, but she was unsuccessful. Just last week, her name was attached to a Greens press release which hit out at Environment Minister Murray Watt for extending the North West Shelf gas project. "Just a few weeks ago, Dorinda Cox was running for a leadership position in the Greens. Most of her policy positions run in direct conflict with Anthony Albanese's policy agenda. And how do you just ignore the bullying?" Fordham continued. The talkback host then accused Mr Albanese of "turning a blind eye" on bullying claims, pointing to the death of the late senator Kimberley Kitching after allegations she had been picked on by Penny Wong, Kristina Keneally and Katy Gallagher. The trio had released a statement later saying the "mean girls" allegations are "untrue". Ms Kitching died after suffering a heart attack on the side of a Melbourne road. "Now he's welcomed into the tent a politician (Senator Cox) whose spent more time in the HR department than anyone else in Parliament House," the 2GB host said. Senator Cox had last year apologised for any "distress" she may have caused but claimed Nine Newspaper's report was "missing context". "There have been many challenges during my first three years in office including the COVID epidemic, taking on the First Nations portfolio alongside the Voice Referendum, and leading many significant committee inquiries," she said in a statement. "All whilst establishing and recruiting two office based teams to secure my six-year term with the ambition of an effective, safe and supportive work environment. "As the employer, I take responsibility for any shortcomings in what has occurred during this period and I apologise for the distress this may have caused." Senator Cox's departure is another blow for the Greens after the it lost three of its four lower house seats in the election. The Labor Party, now with 29 senators, will still require the minor party to pass legislation through the upper house unopposed.
The Advertiser
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
'Lost their way': PM lashes Greens as senator defects
The Greens have been accused of "losing their way" after a senator defected to Labor in the aftermath of the party's tough 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. The prime minister said her values had become more aligned with those of his government, and noted the Greens had previously voted against Labor's legislation to boost housing supply and had drifted from its environmental foundations to other issues. "We know that the Greens have lost their way," he told ABC radio on Tuesday. "I think having to sit in the Senate while the Greens blocked funding for public housing would grate against anyone who regards themselves as progressive." Labor's national executive will formally appoint Senator Cox to the party on Tuesday, after the news was revealed on Monday. The shock announcement represents another setback for the minor party after it lost former leader Adam Bandt, when three out of its four House of Representatives seats fell to Labor at the federal 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 radio. But Senator Waters appeared to question this while pointing to Labor's decision to extend the North West Shelf gas project off the West Australian 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. Asked about Senator Cox becoming the second Indigenous woman to quit the Greens - after now-independent senator Lydia Thorpe - Senator Waters said they had "very different reasons" for leaving. Senator Cox, a Yamatji-Noongar woman, became the Greens only First Nations representative when she joined the upper house in 2021 to fill a vacancy. In 2024, as the party's Indigenous affairs spokesperson, she suggested the Albanese government 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. "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," she told reporters. While she was not required to run in the May election after winning a six-year term in 2022, Senator Cox reportedly had concerns about her likely position on the WA Greens senate ticket going into the 2028 poll. Mr Albanese said Senator Cox, the first Indigenous woman to represent WA in the upper house, approached him about the switch. 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 have been accused of "losing their way" after a senator defected to Labor in the aftermath of the party's tough 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. The prime minister said her values had become more aligned with those of his government, and noted the Greens had previously voted against Labor's legislation to boost housing supply and had drifted from its environmental foundations to other issues. "We know that the Greens have lost their way," he told ABC radio on Tuesday. "I think having to sit in the Senate while the Greens blocked funding for public housing would grate against anyone who regards themselves as progressive." Labor's national executive will formally appoint Senator Cox to the party on Tuesday, after the news was revealed on Monday. The shock announcement represents another setback for the minor party after it lost former leader Adam Bandt, when three out of its four House of Representatives seats fell to Labor at the federal 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 radio. But Senator Waters appeared to question this while pointing to Labor's decision to extend the North West Shelf gas project off the West Australian 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. Asked about Senator Cox becoming the second Indigenous woman to quit the Greens - after now-independent senator Lydia Thorpe - Senator Waters said they had "very different reasons" for leaving. Senator Cox, a Yamatji-Noongar woman, became the Greens only First Nations representative when she joined the upper house in 2021 to fill a vacancy. In 2024, as the party's Indigenous affairs spokesperson, she suggested the Albanese government 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. "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," she told reporters. While she was not required to run in the May election after winning a six-year term in 2022, Senator Cox reportedly had concerns about her likely position on the WA Greens senate ticket going into the 2028 poll. Mr Albanese said Senator Cox, the first Indigenous woman to represent WA in the upper house, approached him about the switch. 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 have been accused of "losing their way" after a senator defected to Labor in the aftermath of the party's tough 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. The prime minister said her values had become more aligned with those of his government, and noted the Greens had previously voted against Labor's legislation to boost housing supply and had drifted from its environmental foundations to other issues. "We know that the Greens have lost their way," he told ABC radio on Tuesday. "I think having to sit in the Senate while the Greens blocked funding for public housing would grate against anyone who regards themselves as progressive." Labor's national executive will formally appoint Senator Cox to the party on Tuesday, after the news was revealed on Monday. The shock announcement represents another setback for the minor party after it lost former leader Adam Bandt, when three out of its four House of Representatives seats fell to Labor at the federal 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 radio. But Senator Waters appeared to question this while pointing to Labor's decision to extend the North West Shelf gas project off the West Australian 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. Asked about Senator Cox becoming the second Indigenous woman to quit the Greens - after now-independent senator Lydia Thorpe - Senator Waters said they had "very different reasons" for leaving. Senator Cox, a Yamatji-Noongar woman, became the Greens only First Nations representative when she joined the upper house in 2021 to fill a vacancy. In 2024, as the party's Indigenous affairs spokesperson, she suggested the Albanese government 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. "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," she told reporters. While she was not required to run in the May election after winning a six-year term in 2022, Senator Cox reportedly had concerns about her likely position on the WA Greens senate ticket going into the 2028 poll. Mr Albanese said Senator Cox, the first Indigenous woman to represent WA in the upper house, approached him about the switch. 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 have been accused of "losing their way" after a senator defected to Labor in the aftermath of the party's tough 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. The prime minister said her values had become more aligned with those of his government, and noted the Greens had previously voted against Labor's legislation to boost housing supply and had drifted from its environmental foundations to other issues. "We know that the Greens have lost their way," he told ABC radio on Tuesday. "I think having to sit in the Senate while the Greens blocked funding for public housing would grate against anyone who regards themselves as progressive." Labor's national executive will formally appoint Senator Cox to the party on Tuesday, after the news was revealed on Monday. The shock announcement represents another setback for the minor party after it lost former leader Adam Bandt, when three out of its four House of Representatives seats fell to Labor at the federal 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 radio. But Senator Waters appeared to question this while pointing to Labor's decision to extend the North West Shelf gas project off the West Australian 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. Asked about Senator Cox becoming the second Indigenous woman to quit the Greens - after now-independent senator Lydia Thorpe - Senator Waters said they had "very different reasons" for leaving. Senator Cox, a Yamatji-Noongar woman, became the Greens only First Nations representative when she joined the upper house in 2021 to fill a vacancy. In 2024, as the party's Indigenous affairs spokesperson, she suggested the Albanese government 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. "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," she told reporters. While she was not required to run in the May election after winning a six-year term in 2022, Senator Cox reportedly had concerns about her likely position on the WA Greens senate ticket going into the 2028 poll. Mr Albanese said Senator Cox, the first Indigenous woman to represent WA in the upper house, approached him about the switch. 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 Advertiser
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
'No animosity': Greens accept senator's defection
The federal Greens are taking the sudden defection of one of their senators to Labor on the chin, saying they have no animosity toward her. Standing alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Perth on Monday, West Australian senator Dorinda Cox announced she was quitting the Greens to sit with Labor in the upper house. The surprise move is a setback for the minor party, which has now lost its only Indigenous representative after losing three of its four lower house seats in the May federal election. Leader Larissa Waters said she received a phone call from Senator Cox an hour before her press conference with Mr Albanese. "We had a very calm and measured conversation about it, and I do genuinely wish her all the best," she told the ABC on Tuesday. "There's no animosity there. It's obviously disappointing for us to lose a Greens senator, but Dorinda has said her values lie there." But Senator Waters appeared to question this while pointing to Labor's decision to extend the North West Shelf gas project off the West Australian coast, which she said would impact ancient Indigenous rock art. "Those values are not consistent with Greens values," she said. "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." Asked about Senator Cox becoming the second Indigenous woman to quit the Greens - after now-independent senator Lydia Thorpe - Senator Waters said they had "very different reasons" for leaving. "The Greens remain entirely committed to strong advocacy on truth telling, on treaties, on justice, on healing, on reparations," she said. Senator Cox, a Yamatji-Noongar woman, joined the upper house in 2021 to fill a Greens vacancy and had been the party's Indigenous affairs spokesperson. In 2024, she suggested the Albanese government 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. "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," she told reporters. While she was not required to run in the May election after winning a six-year term in 2022, Senator Cox reportedly had concerns about her likely position on the WA Greens senate ticket going into the 2028 poll. Mr Albanese said Senator Cox, the first Indigenous woman to represent WA in the upper house, approached him about the switch. 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. "They were all dealt with in Senator Cox's case and dealt with appropriately," he said. Labor will still require the support of either the Greens or the coalition in the Senate to pass legislation. The federal Greens are taking the sudden defection of one of their senators to Labor on the chin, saying they have no animosity toward her. Standing alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Perth on Monday, West Australian senator Dorinda Cox announced she was quitting the Greens to sit with Labor in the upper house. The surprise move is a setback for the minor party, which has now lost its only Indigenous representative after losing three of its four lower house seats in the May federal election. Leader Larissa Waters said she received a phone call from Senator Cox an hour before her press conference with Mr Albanese. "We had a very calm and measured conversation about it, and I do genuinely wish her all the best," she told the ABC on Tuesday. "There's no animosity there. It's obviously disappointing for us to lose a Greens senator, but Dorinda has said her values lie there." But Senator Waters appeared to question this while pointing to Labor's decision to extend the North West Shelf gas project off the West Australian coast, which she said would impact ancient Indigenous rock art. "Those values are not consistent with Greens values," she said. "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." Asked about Senator Cox becoming the second Indigenous woman to quit the Greens - after now-independent senator Lydia Thorpe - Senator Waters said they had "very different reasons" for leaving. "The Greens remain entirely committed to strong advocacy on truth telling, on treaties, on justice, on healing, on reparations," she said. Senator Cox, a Yamatji-Noongar woman, joined the upper house in 2021 to fill a Greens vacancy and had been the party's Indigenous affairs spokesperson. In 2024, she suggested the Albanese government 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. "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," she told reporters. While she was not required to run in the May election after winning a six-year term in 2022, Senator Cox reportedly had concerns about her likely position on the WA Greens senate ticket going into the 2028 poll. Mr Albanese said Senator Cox, the first Indigenous woman to represent WA in the upper house, approached him about the switch. 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. "They were all dealt with in Senator Cox's case and dealt with appropriately," he said. Labor will still require the support of either the Greens or the coalition in the Senate to pass legislation. The federal Greens are taking the sudden defection of one of their senators to Labor on the chin, saying they have no animosity toward her. Standing alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Perth on Monday, West Australian senator Dorinda Cox announced she was quitting the Greens to sit with Labor in the upper house. The surprise move is a setback for the minor party, which has now lost its only Indigenous representative after losing three of its four lower house seats in the May federal election. Leader Larissa Waters said she received a phone call from Senator Cox an hour before her press conference with Mr Albanese. "We had a very calm and measured conversation about it, and I do genuinely wish her all the best," she told the ABC on Tuesday. "There's no animosity there. It's obviously disappointing for us to lose a Greens senator, but Dorinda has said her values lie there." But Senator Waters appeared to question this while pointing to Labor's decision to extend the North West Shelf gas project off the West Australian coast, which she said would impact ancient Indigenous rock art. "Those values are not consistent with Greens values," she said. "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." Asked about Senator Cox becoming the second Indigenous woman to quit the Greens - after now-independent senator Lydia Thorpe - Senator Waters said they had "very different reasons" for leaving. "The Greens remain entirely committed to strong advocacy on truth telling, on treaties, on justice, on healing, on reparations," she said. Senator Cox, a Yamatji-Noongar woman, joined the upper house in 2021 to fill a Greens vacancy and had been the party's Indigenous affairs spokesperson. In 2024, she suggested the Albanese government 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. "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," she told reporters. While she was not required to run in the May election after winning a six-year term in 2022, Senator Cox reportedly had concerns about her likely position on the WA Greens senate ticket going into the 2028 poll. Mr Albanese said Senator Cox, the first Indigenous woman to represent WA in the upper house, approached him about the switch. 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. "They were all dealt with in Senator Cox's case and dealt with appropriately," he said. Labor will still require the support of either the Greens or the coalition in the Senate to pass legislation. The federal Greens are taking the sudden defection of one of their senators to Labor on the chin, saying they have no animosity toward her. Standing alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Perth on Monday, West Australian senator Dorinda Cox announced she was quitting the Greens to sit with Labor in the upper house. The surprise move is a setback for the minor party, which has now lost its only Indigenous representative after losing three of its four lower house seats in the May federal election. Leader Larissa Waters said she received a phone call from Senator Cox an hour before her press conference with Mr Albanese. "We had a very calm and measured conversation about it, and I do genuinely wish her all the best," she told the ABC on Tuesday. "There's no animosity there. It's obviously disappointing for us to lose a Greens senator, but Dorinda has said her values lie there." But Senator Waters appeared to question this while pointing to Labor's decision to extend the North West Shelf gas project off the West Australian coast, which she said would impact ancient Indigenous rock art. "Those values are not consistent with Greens values," she said. "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." Asked about Senator Cox becoming the second Indigenous woman to quit the Greens - after now-independent senator Lydia Thorpe - Senator Waters said they had "very different reasons" for leaving. "The Greens remain entirely committed to strong advocacy on truth telling, on treaties, on justice, on healing, on reparations," she said. Senator Cox, a Yamatji-Noongar woman, joined the upper house in 2021 to fill a Greens vacancy and had been the party's Indigenous affairs spokesperson. In 2024, she suggested the Albanese government 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. "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," she told reporters. While she was not required to run in the May election after winning a six-year term in 2022, Senator Cox reportedly had concerns about her likely position on the WA Greens senate ticket going into the 2028 poll. Mr Albanese said Senator Cox, the first Indigenous woman to represent WA in the upper house, approached him about the switch. 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. "They were all dealt with in Senator Cox's case and dealt with appropriately," he said. Labor will still require the support of either the Greens or the coalition in the Senate to pass legislation.
West Australian
3 days ago
- Politics
- West Australian
'No animosity': Greens accept senator's defection
The federal Greens are taking the sudden defection of one of their senators to Labor on the chin, saying they have no animosity toward her. Standing alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Perth on Monday, West Australian senator Dorinda Cox announced she was quitting the Greens to sit with Labor in the upper house. The surprise move is a setback for the minor party, which has now lost its only Indigenous representative after losing three of its four lower house seats in the May federal election. Leader Larissa Waters said she received a phone call from Senator Cox an hour before her press conference with Mr Albanese. "We had a very calm and measured conversation about it, and I do genuinely wish her all the best," she told the ABC on Tuesday. "There's no animosity there. It's obviously disappointing for us to lose a Greens senator, but Dorinda has said her values lie there." But Senator Waters appeared to question this while pointing to Labor's decision to extend the North West Shelf gas project off the West Australian coast, which she said would impact ancient Indigenous rock art. "Those values are not consistent with Greens values," she said. "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." Asked about Senator Cox becoming the second Indigenous woman to quit the Greens - after now-independent senator Lydia Thorpe - Senator Waters said they had "very different reasons" for leaving. "The Greens remain entirely committed to strong advocacy on truth telling, on treaties, on justice, on healing, on reparations," she said. Senator Cox, a Yamatji-Noongar woman, joined the upper house in 2021 to fill a Greens vacancy and had been the party's Indigenous affairs spokesperson. In 2024, she suggested the Albanese government 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. "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," she told reporters. While she was not required to run in the May election after winning a six-year term in 2022, Senator Cox reportedly had concerns about her likely position on the WA Greens senate ticket going into the 2028 poll. Mr Albanese said Senator Cox, the first Indigenous woman to represent WA in the upper house, approached him about the switch. 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. "They were all dealt with in Senator Cox's case and dealt with appropriately," he said. Labor will still require the support of either the Greens or the coalition in the Senate to pass legislation.
