Lidia Thorpe’s longstanding complaint against Dorinda Cox has resurfaced in light of Cox’s recent departure from the Greens to join the Labor party, a move that has raised questions about representation for Indigenous Australians in federal politics. The transition took place in Perth, where Cox joined Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, marking a significant shift in her political alignment. The political fallout from this surprising defection is still unfolding. Today the Greens have confirmed they are ending their internal inquiry into Cox’s behaviour, saying they lack jurisdiction.
Three years ago, Thorpe herself filed this same type of complaint against Cox, which she says has still not been resolved. Even after she thought about dropping her complaint, Thorpe still wants it to be clear that it’s ongoing. Recent events like this judicial dilemma reveal the inner workings of the third-party shimmy in Australian politics—the Greens party—and the importance and ongoing struggle of Aboriginal representation. As a consequence of Cox’s departure, the Greens now do not have any Indigenous parliamentarians at the federal level.
Internal Investigations and Complaints
The Greens had already begun an internal process in response to the complaints made against Cox. They haven’t just stalled the investigation. They alleged they had no authority to discipline her behavior after she bolted the party. Dean Smith, state director of his party’s WA Greens, confirmed Cox’s investigation was indeed still open. It had not gotten to a vote before her defection.
Thorpe then expressed her serious disappointment about the issue at hand, and highlighted the need for proper Indigenous representation in political systems.
“I sent her a message yesterday just saying I was disappointed, however wishing you all the best,” – Lidia Thorpe
Thorpe was particularly worried about First Nations voices.
“She was representing all of us First Nations people in Australia, and now we don’t [have that], so it’s something that we had an urgent meeting last night … and so we are going to be addressing that in the next couple of months.”
Dorinda Cox’s Perspective
Cox has been under fire, including since her departure from the Greens, and in September issued an apology in response to complaints about mistreatment of staff. In her statement, she acknowledged “challenging conditions both politically and personally” that could have contributed to the issues raised against her.
In defending herself against critical media reports about her conduct, Cox claimed that those reports were “lacking context.” Her recent move across the floor to join the Labor Party has been controversial. Folks are dissecting how her record affected the lack of Indigenous people – particularly Indigenous women – in government today.
It’s good that Prime Minister Albanese has taken a stand. In response to Moore going public, he claims all of Cox’s past complaints have been “handled.” This federal statement certainly complicates the picture. It further brings into question how robust the process was to address any concerns raised by Thorpe and others.
The Future of Representation
Cox’s defection is causing a seismic shift to the Australian political landscape. This increase is fueling a larger movement for increased Aboriginal representation in federal politics. Trish Frail, co-secretary of the Australian Greens International, stressed that the party would work diligently to address this critical issue moving forward.
The implications of Cox’s departure are more than just political. They impact the ways Indigenous Australians view their representation within different levels of government. The Greens’ loss of Indigenous voices raises significant concerns about the future direction of policies that impact First Nations communities.
