Up next
Author
Share this @internewscast.com
FacebookXRedditPinterest
Standing alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Perth on Monday, West Australian senator Dorinda Cox announced she was quitting the Greens to sit with Labor in the upper house.
The surprise move is a setback for the minor party, which has now lost its only Indigenous representative after losing three of its four lower house seats in the May federal election.
Leader Larissa Waters said she received a phone call from Senator Cox an hour before her press conference with Mr Albanese.
“We had a very calm and measured conversation about it, and I do genuinely wish her all the best,” she told the ABC on Tuesday.

“There’s no hard feelings. Although it’s disappointing for us to lose a Greens senator, Dorinda feels her values align more with theirs.”

But Senator Waters appeared to question this while pointing to Labor’s decision to extend the North West Shelf gas project off the West Australian coast, which she said would impact ancient Indigenous rock art.
“Those values are not consistent with Greens values,” she said.

“We’ve opposed this move. However, Senator Cox has decided that this party suits her better, and we wish her all the best.”

Dorinda Cox and Anthony Albanese in Perth

Mr. Albanese mentioned that Senator Cox had spoken to him regarding her decision to change parties. Source: AAP / Richard Wainwright/AAPImage

Asked about Senator Cox becoming the second Indigenous woman to quit the Greens – after now-independent senator Lydia Thorpe – Senator Waters said they had “very different reasons” for leaving.

“The Greens remain entirely committed to strong advocacy on truth telling, on treaties, on justice, on healing, on reparations,” she said.
Senator Cox, a Yamatji-Noongar woman, joined the upper house in 2021 to fill a Greens vacancy and had been the party’s Indigenous affairs spokesperson.

In 2024, she suggested the Albanese government was “not interested” in closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

But on Monday, Senator Cox said she felt her values and priorities were better aligned with Labor than the Greens.
“I’ve worked hard to make Australia fairer and much more reconciled, but recently, I’ve lost some confidence in the capacity for the Greens to assist me in being able to progress this,” she told reporters.
While she was not required to run in the May election after winning a six-year term in 2022, Senator Cox reportedly had concerns about her likely position on the WA Greens senate ticket going into the 2028 poll.
Mr Albanese said Senator Cox, the first Indigenous woman to represent WA in the upper house, approached him about the switch.
Senator Cox was accused of bullying Greens staffers in 2024, with as many as 20 employees leaving in three years and complaints made to parliament’s workplace support service.
Mr Albanese said the allegations had been examined.
“They were all dealt with in Senator Cox’s case and dealt with appropriately,” he said.

Labor will still require the support of either the Greens or the coalition in the Senate to pass legislation.

Share this @internewscast.com
FacebookXRedditPinterest
You May Also Like

Ring in 2025: Ultimate Guide to New Year’s Eve Celebrations Across Australia

With only a few hours left, Australians across the country are preparing…
Videos on local media showed train cars with broken windows and dented sides stuck along a rail line hemmed in between a lush forest and a massive rock.

Tragic Train Collision Near Machu Picchu: Fatalities and Injuries Shake Peru’s Iconic Route

Two trains taking tourists to Peru’s famed archaeological site of Machu Picchu…

Breaking: Israel Suspends Over 30 Humanitarian Aid Operations in Gaza—What It Means for the Region

Israel says it has suspended more than two dozen humanitarian organisations, including…

Global Festivities Illuminate New Year’s Eve 2025: Stunning Fireworks, Dazzling Light Shows, and Chilly Traditions

10 … nine … eight … As Wednesday turned to Thursday, people…
Flood warning remain in place for rivers and creeks across Queensland's north-east.

Relentless Monsoonal Rains Persist in Northern Queensland

North Queensland remains on alert as a deadly weather system continues to…
Queen Camilla reveals indecent assault as a teen for first time

Queen Camilla Breaks Silence: Reveals Shocking Teen Assault Experience for the First Time

Britain’s Queen Camilla has spoken publicly for the first time about her…
Two men were pulled from the overturned wreck of the Toyota Corolla.

Stolen Car Crashes into Power Pole After Traffic Stop: Two Men Hospitalized

Two young men are in hospital after a stolen car they were…
Sam Kerr and Kristie Mewis marry in private ceremony in Perth

Inside the Secret Perth Wedding: Sam Kerr and Kristie Mewis Tie the Knot

Australian soccer icon Sam Kerr has tied the knot with fellow athlete…

Australian K-Pop Sensation Faces $44 Million Lawsuit in South Korea: The Untold Story

Australian singer Danielle Marsh, a member of the Korean pop (K-pop) group…
The blaze was sparked on Temby Avenue around 12.20am and quickly spread through grassland.

Teen Accused of Starting Major Bushfire with Firecracker on New Year’s Eve

A teenager has been charged after a firecracker was launched into Perth…
Millions more Epstein documents under review

Unveiling the Secrets: Millions of Epstein Documents Under Scrutiny in Ongoing Investigation

The US Department of Justice has expanded its review of documents related…
Ex-prosecutor tells Congress he had enough to convict Trump

Former Prosecutor Reveals Sufficient Evidence to Convict Trump in Congressional Testimony

The January 6, 2021 riot at the US Capitol “does not happen”…