Rhiannon says bullies won't stop her

As the Greens federal party room decides what to do with Lee Rhiannon, the NSW senator says she feels bullied and harassed.

Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon

File image of Senator Lee Rhiannon (AAP) Source: AAP

Greens senator Lee Rhiannon has vowed to recontest her NSW seat despite feeling "bullied and harassed" by anonymous critics and while facing potential sanction from her federal party colleagues.

Federal Greens parliamentarians met via teleconference on Monday to voice concerns that Senator Rhiannon had breached the faith of the party room and attempted to derail school funding negotiations with the Turnbull government, by authorising leaflets in inner Sydney without proper consultation.

However, the meeting was unable to settle the issue and a further discussion could be held as early as Tuesday.

Senator Rhiannon said in a statement on Tuesday she was "shocked and disappointed" by anonymous commentary.

"I am feeling bullied and harassed," she said.

The NSW senator rejected media reports she had previously been sanctioned by the party and rejected claims she was a member or instigator of an internal party group known as Left Renewal.

"It is a vicious attempt to destroy my reputation. If the deceitful leaker thinks their tactic will drive me from parliament they are wrong."

She said it was the Turnbull government's decision to negotiate with the crossbench that killed off talks with the Greens.

Greens NSW co-convenor Hall Greenland said Senator Rhiannon had consulted widely before approving the leaflet, urging a campaign against the government's school funding plans.

"Lee consulted the state MP responsible for education, the education working group and the federal parliamentary liaison committee - all representative bodies of the NSW members - before taking the position against the fraudulent Gonski 2.0," Mr Greenland wrote on his Facebook site.

The leaflet called for people to "contact all senators", not just Greens senators.


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Source: AAP



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