TRANSCRIPT
As federal cabinet meets in Perth, the fallout from Western Australian senator Dorinda Cox's shock defection from the Greens to the Labor Party continues.
Greens leader Larissa Waters says she was left stunned by the decision.
"Dorinda called about an hour before her press conference with the Prime Minister and we had a very calm and measured conversation about it. I did genuinely wish her all the best, there's no animosity there, it is obviously disappointing to lose a Greens senator."
The Greens still hold the balance of power in the Senate, but Ms Cox says she wasn't able to achieve the progress she desires with the party.
"I've reached a conclusion after deep and careful reflection that My values and priorities are more aligned with Labor than the Greens. I am in public life to make real change, and deliver lasting and tangible outcomes for Australians. I've worked hard to make Australia fairer and much more reconciled. But recently, I've lost confidence in the capacity for the Greens to be able to assist me in being able to progress this."
However, just last week, Ms Cox condemned Labor's extension of Western Australia's controversial North-West Shelf gas project.
It's been labelled by the Greens as a carbon bomb, and Ms Cox raised concerns ancient Indigenous heritage would be destroyed.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says joining the Labor Party will mean making some compromises for Ms Cox.
"Dorinda Cox understands that being a member of the Labor Party means that she will support positions that are made by the Labor Party."
It's a lesson that was learned the hard way for fellow West Australian Senator Fatima Payman, who left Labor's ranks last year after speaking out on Gaza.
Greens staffers suggest Ms Cox left voluntarily before she was pushed out, amid internal investigations into bullying.
They're claims the senator has denied, and Mr Albanese says he's confident any issues have been managed.
"No, that got dealt with by the mechanism that my government established. We support safe workplaces. We established a mechanism in the parliament which is at arm’s length of government, and that's important."
The Greens have now been left with no Indigenous members among their federal ranks, after Lidia Thorpe left in 2023.
Ms Cox says she lost faith her party could help her make real change on issues, including reconciliation.
However, Ms Waters says she's unconvinced Labor will do better on this front- having backed down on truth and treaty.
"The Greens remain entirely committed to strong advocacy on truth-telling, on treaties, on justice, on healing, on reparations. our policies are still very firm for First Nations justice, and we won't be changing course on that regard."
