Greens senator Dorinda Cox is facing allegations of alleged workplace misconduct, including bullying, with a wave of staffers reportedly quitting their roles.
First reported in the Sydney Morning Herald on Wednesday, 20 staff have reportedly exited their roles in the past three years.
Claims made of Cox's conduct include the behaviour of a “bully”, while another reportedly described a mental health decline during their time working for the Senator.
National Indigenous Times has approached Cox's office and an ex-staffer, who chose not to comment.
A separate ex-staffer who spoke to National Indigenous Times on the basis of anonymity described the allegations made as aligning with their experiences.
National Indigenous Times does not suggest the ex-staffer is among those quoted in Nine's report as below.
According to Nine, multiple complaints have reportedly been made to the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service, as well as Greens leader Adam Bandt’s office.
“During my time working in the office, I witnessed and experienced disturbing behaviour by Dorinda Cox towards myself and other staff members. These experiences made me concerned for my safety and for the safety of others in the office,” an ex-staffer, who was kept anonymous, alleged.
“I spent much of the time feeling like I was walking on eggshells just waiting for Dorinda to explode at me,” they added.
“It is also ironic that the Australian Greens are calling for integrity in government and the implementation of a Federal ICAC, and yet the most unsafe I have ever felt in my 20 years working life was while working in an Australian Greens Senatorial office.”
A drafted complaint from a separate ex-staffer which was never submitted alleged Cox “would admit to me that she found it difficult to maintain decorum and would apologise for her overreactions to situations, promising to do better next time”.
They reportedly suffered panic attacks and thoughts of suicide during their time working with the Senator.
Mardathoonera Elder Aunty Esther Montgomery alleged the Cox was “constantly putting me down” across a short period as staff earlier this year.
“I was employed as the community organiser, she asked me to come and work for her and I had high hopes, but she is a bully,” she said.
“She continually undermines you, but she wouldn't let me get out or meet people. She wouldn't allow me to collaborate with people on grassroots work. I said that was impossible. She would put me down, psychologically... She's no shrinking violet.”
Another worker who departed was anonymously quoted stating “as an Aboriginal woman, she (Cox) needs to be pulled up by our mob”.
Cultural diagnostic reviews of Cox’s office reportedly leaked are said to have been conducted in 2022 and 2023 - the first finding there had been “significant change” in the office since the Senator entered parliament, and recommended “individual proactive psychological support/coaching” for Cox, and wellbeing coaching for office staff.
The second review was conducted amid continued exits of staff.
Ex-chief of staff Sarah Quinton reportedly made complaints to the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service and Bandt’s office.
Ms Quinton was quoted stating “If a CEO or anyone in management had behaved this way they would have been sacked”.
A spokesperson for Senator Cox reportedly defended the high-turnover of staff as common, and in-part linked to her taking on the First Nations portfolio in the lead up to last year’s Voice referendum.
They also said Cox “worked respectfully and collaboratively with colleagues” and her staff and that she “continues to be very grateful to the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service for the work they do in helping offices across the country, including mine, despite what can be challenging circumstances both politically and personally,” according to Nine.
A Bandt spokesperson told Nine his office had no legal ability to resolve any senator-staff disputes and directed complaints towards the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service.
