The Greens leader, Adam Bandt, has said the party takes the issue of bullying “very seriously” and follows the recommendations of the independent parliament workplace support service after allegations were made in recent media reports against a West Australian senator.
Bandt defended his party’s approach on Thursday afternoon after bullying allegations against Dorinda Cox were published by Nine newspapers.
Nine reported claims that at least 20 staff had left Cox’s office since she entered the Senate in 2021 as the replacement for outgoing Greens senator Rachel Siewert.
Cox, a Noongar Yamatji woman, is the first Indigenous woman to represent Western Australia in the upper house.
She said on Thursday that she was thankful for the work of the independent Parliamentary Workplace Support Service.
“I’m very proud of my team and the hard-working people that have been part of it since my election,” Cox said in a statement.
“I have continued to work respectfully and collaboratively with my colleagues and team and will continue to work to incorporate a holistic work-life balance to our offices.
“I continue to be very grateful to the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service for the work they do in helping offices across the country, including mine, despite what can be challenging circumstances both politically and personally.”
Bandt was asked about the Greens’ response to the bullying allegations at a press conference in Perth on Thursday.
“Our approach is that any time any staff member comes to me or comes to my team with an issue, we take it very seriously, and we support them to take that complaint through the independent PWSS process,” Bandt told reporters.
“That’s what’s happened here.”
In an earlier interview with ABC radio, Bandt said the party worked to help establish the independent parliamentary workplace body so staff could take complaints there.
Bandt said if the party had tried to resolve the matter internally there would have been a criticism that the investigation was not independent.
“We want these properly and robustly investigated. That’s why … you need to have some independence here.”
after newsletter promotion
Sources within the Greens say the issues arose during a fraught environment at times exasperated by the voice referendum.
Conflict between Greens MPs who supported the voice and the party’s First Nations advisory group which did not – also known as the Blak Greens – created a split in the party which sources say is yet to be resolved.
A spokesperson for the Greens told Guardian Australia the party dealt with any complaints seriously.
“Everyone deserves a safe working environment,” they said.
“The leader’s office has no legal power to resolve disputes between staff and any individual senator’s office, and if any member of staff raises a complaint, they are encouraged and offered support to pursue it through the independent PWSS, and that occurred here.
“The Greens will not comment on any individual cases in relation to staff.”