Senator Dorinda Cox has been censured by her state branch of the Greens over allegations of bullying with party officials to investigate the claims.
The rebuke comes after it was revealed 20 staff had left her office in three years with some claiming they had worked in a toxic workplace and one revealing they became suicidal.
With Greens WA state director Dean Smith and co-conveners Chloe Durand and Nat Tang deciding to begin formal investigations into the claims, it puts the spotlight back on federal party leader Adam Bandt who so has dodged questions on the issue.
WA Greens officials have sent all state party members an email, which has been obtained by The Age, about the issue.
The email states any allegation of bullying and misconduct from a member of our party, especially one with a position of power and influence, is cause for grave concern.
We expect all our MPs to conduct themselves in line with Greens values... Senator Cox has been issued a censure by our Representative Councils Quick Decision Making Group, the email read.
While censure does not entail any further punishment it is considered highly embarrassing for the Senator and may even endanger her pre-selection if she decides to stand for election again in 2028.
Many of the people who have been on record or named in these articles are active contributors to the Greens, the email continues.
Senator Dorinda Cox has been censured by her state branch of the Greens over allegations of bullying
Were deeply saddened to hear of their experiences both in the movement, and in navigating the Parliamentary Worker Support System (PWSS).
We wish to express our support for those who have spoken up, and for any others who are considering doing so.
We are committed to the investigation of any allegations, a fair outcome, and to supporting people impacted by any such behaviour.
On Friday Senator Cox, who is a a Yamatji-Noongar woman and former police officer, apologised for any shortcomings in her office and blamed a high workload for staff burnout.
In one complaint sent to the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service (PWSS) in 2021, a former staffer claimed to have witnessed disturbing behaviour from Ms Cox towards colleagues.
These experiences made me concerned for my safety and for the safety of others in the office, the staffer told the publication.
I spent much of the time feeling like I was walking on eggshells just waiting for Dorinda to explode at me.
A draft complaint by another staffer which was not formally lodged claimed Ms Cox would apologise for her actions but the behaviour would continue.
Greens leader Adam Bandt (picured left with Greens Senator Steph Hodgins-May) has so far dodged questions regarding Senator Cox and the bullying claims
Often times becoming aggressive, persistently negative and sometimes vicious which ultimately resulted in my mental health declining to the point of having daily panic attacks, thoughts of suicide and an almost complete loss of self-esteem in my professional ability, the former staffer wrote in the draft complaint.
I felt at the time that if I didnt resign from my position that my mental health would deteriorate to such a state to require medical intervention in a hospital setting, something I articulated to the chief of staff in Adam Bandts office.
Its understood four formal complaints were submitted to the PWSS and five referred to the office of Greens leader Adam Bandt.
Another former staffer, Aunty Esther Montgomery, who worked under Ms Cox for six weeks earlier this year, claimed the senator was a bully who was constantly putting me down.
She would put me down, psychologically... Shes no shrinking violet, Ms Montgomery told the publication.
When asked about the complaints on Thursday Mr Bandt cut short a press conference and refused to comment beyond saying the federal Parliamentary Workplace Support Service was best placed to deal with the matter.
Ms Cox became the seventh Aboriginal politician in the current federal parliament when she was sworn in in October 2021.
She joined WA Police as a cadet at the age of 17.
During her eight years of police service, Ms Cox worked with traffic, child abuse, and juvenile aid teams as well as performing front line roles including dealing with domestic violence and stealing complaints.
Daily Mail Australia contacted Ms Cox for comment.
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