Greens take drastic step after senator Dorinda Cox embroiled in toxic workplace allegations – as 20 staff quit her office in three years

Senator Dorinda Cox has been censured by her state branch of the Greens over allegations of bullying party officials into investigating the claims.

The reprimand comes after it became known that twenty employees had left her office in three years. Some claimed they had worked in a toxic workplace and one staff member revealed they had become suicidal.

With Greens WA state director Dean Smith and co-founders Chloe Durand and Nat Tang deciding to launch a formal investigation into the claims, the spotlight is once again on federal party leader Adam Bandt, who has dodged questions about the issue.

WA Greens officials have sent an email to all state party members, which was obtained by The eraabout the issue.

The email said that “any allegation of bullying and misconduct by any member of our party, especially one in a position of power and influence, is cause for serious concern.”

“We expect all our MPs to conduct themselves in accordance with the values ​​of the Greens… Senator Cox has received a censure from our Representative Council’s Quick Decision Making Group,” the email said.

While censure carries no further punishment, it is considered highly embarrassing for the senator and could even jeopardize her pre-selection if she decides to run for re-election in 2028.

“Many of the people mentioned or mentioned in these articles are active contributors to the Greens,” the email continues.

“We are deeply saddened to hear about their experiences, both within the movement and in navigating the Parliamentary Worker Support System (PWSS).

‘We would like to express our support for those who have spoken out, and for anyone else who is considering doing so.

‘We are committed to investigating any allegations, ensuring a fair outcome, and supporting people affected by such behaviour.’

On Friday, Senator Cox, a Yamatji-Noongar woman and former police officer, apologized for any “shortcomings” in her office and blamed high workloads for staff burnout.

In one complaint sent to the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service (PWSS) in 2021, a former employee claimed to have witnessed ‘disturbing behaviour’ by Ms Cox towards colleagues.

“These experiences made me concerned about my safety and the safety of others in the office,” the employee told the publication.

“I felt like I was walking on eggshells a lot of the time, waiting for Dorinda to explode on me.”

A draft complaint from another employee, which was not formally filed, alleged that Ms. Cox would apologize for her actions “but the behavior would continue.”

Greens leader Adam Bandt (pictured left with Greens senator Steph Hodgins-May) has so far dodged questions about Senator Cox and the bullying claims

“I often became aggressive, persistently negative, and sometimes cruel, which ultimately caused my mental health to deteriorate to the point where I suffered daily panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, and an almost complete loss of self-esteem in my professional skills,” the former employee wrote. in the draft complaint.

“I felt at the time that if I did not resign, my mental health would deteriorate to the point where medical intervention in a hospital would be necessary, something I expressed to the chief of staff in Adam Bandt’s office.”

It is understood four formal complaints have been made to the PWSS and five have been referred to Greens leader Adam Bandt’s office.

Another former aide, Aunt Esther Montgomery, who worked under Ms Cox for six weeks earlier this year, claimed the senator was a “bully” who “constantly let me down”.

“She would psychologically abandon me… She is not a shrinking violet,” Ms. Montgomery told the publication.

When asked about the complaints on Thursday, Mr Bandt interrupted a news conference and declined to comment other than to say the Federal Parliamentary Employment Support Service was best placed to handle the matter.

Ms Cox became the seventh Aboriginal politician in the current Federal Parliament when she was sworn in in October 2021.

She joined the WA Police as a cadet at the age of 17.

During her eight years in the force, Ms Cox has worked with traffic, child abuse and youth services teams. She also held frontline roles including dealing with domestic violence and theft complaints.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms Cox for comment.

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