(Perth) – Senator Cox Jumps Ship from Greens to Labor Amid Bullying Allegations
West Australian Senator Dorinda Cox has defected from the Greens to join Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor government, in a political move that has sparked both criticism and applause. The switch comes despite lingering workplace bullying allegations against her, which Albanese insists were “dealt with appropriately.”
Cox, who has three years remaining in her Senate term, made the surprise announcement in Perth just moments before appearing alongside Albanese at a press conference. She had only informed the Greens’ new leader, Larissa Waters, of her resignation ninety minutes prior.
Citing a change in values, Cox said she no longer believed the Greens were capable of helping her achieve her goals for a fairer and more reconciled Australia. “I have reached a conclusion after deep and careful reflection that my values and priorities are more aligned with Labor than the Greens,” she told reporters.
The Greens have been struggling to maintain influence, especially after losing three of their four lower house seats in the last election, including the seat held by former leader Adam Bandt. Although the defection does not tip the Senate balance significantly—Labor still requires Greens support if the Coalition blocks a bill—it does symbolically undercut the minor party’s strength.
The timing of Cox’s departure has raised eyebrows, as it comes on the heels of public reports that more than 20 staff had left her office in just three years. At least five of those staff filed formal complaints with either the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service or internal Greens channels. The support service reportedly closed its involvement without communicating any resolution to the complainants.
Cox has denied wrongdoing but apologised for any “distress” felt by her staff. She said her office had endured a challenging period that included pandemic disruptions, the Voice referendum, several parliamentary inquiries, and extensive work across a large geographic region. She added that she takes “full responsibility for any shortcomings.”
Albanese, while welcoming Cox into Labor’s fold, said his government had reviewed the allegations and deemed them resolved. “We examined everything that had been considered in the past. Those issues were dealt with appropriately,” he said. “They were all dealt with in Senator Cox’s case and dealt with appropriately.”
The prime minister added that Cox had not asked for anything in return for her switch, and praised her motivations, comparing them to his own early political ideals. “The values that Dorinda has are perfectly consistent with the values of the Labor Party,” he added.
However, Greens leader Waters voiced strong disappointment. “Senator Cox has said that her values align with the Labor Party,” she said in a statement. “This is the same Labor Party who this week approved the climate-wrecking North West Shelf gas project.” Waters argued that the Greens are the only party actively pushing for real action on climate change, Indigenous rights, and heritage protection.
Cox is not the first Indigenous senator to leave the Greens in recent years. Victorian senator Lidia Thorpe also exited the party to sit on the crossbench after disagreeing with the Greens’ stance on the Voice to Parliament.
Cox, a former Labor member and police officer, reportedly maintained close ties with prominent Indigenous figures in Labor circles, including Marcus Stewart, co-chair of Victoria’s First Peoples’ Assembly and husband of Labor Senator Jana Stewart. Her return to Labor followed discussions with several senior Labor figures and was approved by the party’s national executive.
The move was kept under wraps until the last moment, with even senior figures in both parties only becoming aware in the final days before the announcement. Albanese’s office ensured the transition remained confidential, in contrast to the often-leaky nature of federal politics.
