Rhiannon hits back on Greens schools split

Greens senator Lee Rhiannon insists her actions over funding for schools have been faithful to the party's policies and processes.

Lee Rhiannon

Greens senator Lee Rhiannon insists she didn't derail the party's schools funding negotiations. (AAP) Source: AAP

Greens senator Lee Rhiannon has rejected allegations she derailed the party's negotiations over schools funding and breached the faith of the party room.

All members of the federal parliamentary party, including leader Richard Di Natale, have reportedly signed a formal complaint to the party's national council against the NSW senator.

They accuse her of attempting to derail them over the so-called Gonski 2.0 package, after distributing a leaflet in Sydney inner west letterboxes against the policy.

"We were astounded that Senator Rhiannon was engaged with its production and distribution without informing (the) party room at a time when we were under enormous pressure from all sides as we considered our position on the (school funding) bill," Fairfax Media quoted the letter as saying.

Senator Rhiannon hit back on Sunday, insisting at all times her actions on education have been faithful to Greens policy and process.

"My work did not impact on the Greens negotiations with the government," she said in a statement.

"It was the Turnbull government's decision to do a deal with the crossbench senators that killed off negotiations with the Greens. I had no role in that."

The leaflets she authorised were a "good initiative" of Greens local groups and highlighted the negative impact the Turnbull government's plan would have on their public schools, she said.

"I was proud to stand with branches of the Australian Education Union, particularly as the Turnbull school funding plan favoured private schools."

A spokesman for Senator Di Natale told AAP on Saturday the party was extremely disappointed that the letter was made public.

In the end the Greens voted against the package with Labor, but the government secured the 10 crucial crossbench votes needed to get its funding shake-up over the line.


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Source: AAP



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