#Auspol #Cox #Greens #Labor

the saga continues. in our busy and complex democracy, we don’t often get a chance to know our local reps, and some people rely on party philosophy and discipline as an indication of what they are buying.
on the other hand, i have once or twice joined small parties to help publicise an issue or help them register as a party, but i’m not a joiner by nature. the argy bargy of male dominated unions in the 1970s was enough to put me off. and the worst thing about democracy is our own views often lose out to other priorities, or cos other people just don’t get it. i won’t criticise cox for defecting (more than once) but i don’t think all this publicity is doing her any favours.

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from SMH today;

<<Senator Dorinda Cox described Labor as patronising to women and people of colour and claimed the party cared more about its donors than members in her application to run for the Greens in 2020.

Cox was a Labor Party member before leaving to join the Greens, becoming a senator in September 2021. She rejoined Labor in a surprise defection from the crossbench this week that infuriated her former colleagues.

When Cox applied to become a Greens senator, she filled out an online application form that asked her reasons for leaving any other political party. In her response, seen by this masthead, Cox delivered a withering verdict on the party whose values the senator said she shared on Monday.

“I was a previous member of the Labor Party but left disillusioned and disappointed. I had joined in the hope that it was a party of significant influence that could create change but soon realised that they did not authentically engage with members,” Cox wrote. “I was let down by what I found to be a patronising attitude towards women and people of colour. Finally, leaving when it became clear that they cared more about election donors that [sic] the views of members.”

Cox, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s office, and the Western Australian division of the Greens did not respond to requests for comment.

On Tuesday, Albanese brushed off the risk of policy disagreements with Cox, who has previously criticised Labor for its stance on environmental and Indigenous issues.

“Well, Dorinda Cox understands that being a member of the Labor Party means that she will support positions that are made by the Labor Party,” Albanese said.

On Monday, Cox said: “I have reached a conclusion after deep and careful reflection that my values and priorities are more aligned with Labor than the Greens.”… >>

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https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/cox-accused-labor-of-patronising-women-people-of-colour-in-application-to-greens-20250603-p5m4pk.html

#Auspol #Cox #Greens #Labor

there’s a lot to unpack in this article from SMH: first, i noted that
writers/editors will censor the f-bomb but don’t believe the r-bomb is offensive.
ffs, either tell us what cox said, or don’t.

i believe pauline hanson is an instinctively unkind person with horrible values. i also believe politics works best when people have a passionate commitment to something more than their retirement fund. and i should add that during my 70 years on this planet i have sometimes said things i am not proud of, but i find it hard to respect anyone who throws the word <retarded> around as a judgement. hanson is not a <fucking retard> she is just really, really hateful

the morrisons and abbotts of the world seem to do their cassius act of knifing their enemies in private. morrison, really, was a smiling and smarmy assassin but that’s not how he was portrayed in the press. on the other hand, when a bunch of women resort to personality politics we know where the press is going to take it. it’s not productive.

the story seems to suggest a high staff turnover in cox’s office is proof she is a bully, and cox is changing jobs to escape consequences. maybe she’s just not likeable, which would be a lesser crime? maybe they were staff cox inherited, who disagreed with her values? there could be any number of explanations. why are the writers of this article not telling us who planted this story?

here’s what i think, fwiw
labor don’t give a fuck about first nations, [not trying to start a bunfight, feel free to block me but don’t @ me] or the climate, and it makes no sense for someone green to defect to them
it’s a betrayal of people who voted green
and labor are absolutely intolerant of anyone who deviates from the party line. i would never trust cox to represent me in future.

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Greens defector’s use of slur against fellow senator exposed in text leak.

By
Paul Sakkal, James Massola and Olivia Ireland
SMH 3rd June 2025

Senator Dorinda Cox called One Nation leader Pauline Hanson a “f---ing retard” in a text message leaked after she defected to Labor, showing the depth of anger toward her in the Greens after her departure cut short a party investigation into allegations she bullied staff.
Cox used the slur to describe Hanson in a text message to an associate in June 2023, as the One Nation senator was delivering a controversial speech about people faking Indigenous heritage that was not aimed at any individual.

The leak from a party source comes as Greens leader Larissa Waters wrote of Cox’s “betrayal” in an email to members, in a sign of escalating tensions between the minor party and the government, which needs its votes to pass legislation. Cox was contacted for comment about the text.

Cox split from the Greens on Monday after a bitter fall-out with colleagues over her failed bid to become the party’s deputy leader, as revealed by this masthead on Tuesday.

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https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/greens-deny-problem-with-indigenous-representation-after-senators-leave-20250603-p5m4e4.html