Quitting candidate slams Greens culture

Long-time Greens member and repeat federal candidate Alex Bhathal has quit the Victorian party citing "organisational bullying".

Victorian Greens candidate Alex Bhathal (right)

Long-time Greens member Alex Bhathal(R) has quit the Victorian party citing organisational bullying. (AAP)

A would-be Greens politician who has made six unsuccessful attempts to win a federal seat has announced she's quitting the party having lost faith in its governance.

Alex Bhathal, who has repeatedly contested the inner-Melbourne electorate of Batman - now known as Cooper - on Friday published a lengthy statement on her website, scathing of the Victorian Greens.

"I have lost faith in the party's governance and I can no longer remain silent about the abuses of power and process that seem to be endemic within the organisation," she wrote.

Ms Bhathal says she has been "subject to relentless organisational bullying" for about five years, notably rumour-mongering, character attacks and "unsubstantiated complaints and unfair charges".

"I believe that the Greens are failing the most basic standards of transparency, due process and good governance and that these failures can weaponise grievance processes, enabling them to be used for political ends," she said.

"I feel that I am effectively being bullied out of the party."

A panel responsible for overseeing Ms Bhathal's complaints had also reopened an investigation into previously dis-proven complaints against her, she said.

The Victorian Greens state council is due to meet on Saturday.

The state disputes panel drew up charges after she said she felt forced to stand-down as the candidate for Batman when the party didn't act against sabotagers.

"I've found myself caught up in a bizarre nightmare where I have been accused of bullying and misconduct," she said.

"The Batman by-election campaign, then the Greens' best chance to gain a second lower house seat, was viciously undermined."


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Source: AAP


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