New beginning for Greens after senator's defection
The Greens have unveiled a blueprint to rebuild the party in the aftermath of a senator's shock defection to Labor.
Greens leader Larissa Waters announced she will take over the First Nations portfolio after the minor party's last Indigenous member quit the Greens to join Labor.
Dorinda Cox's move represents another setback for the Greens, following a disappointing federal election result that cost them three out of four seats in the lower house.
But Senator Waters' new portfolio allocations, unveiled on Wednesday, are aimed at providing a fresh start.
"This parliament could achieve real progress," she said.
"With the Greens being in the sole balance of power, there is no excuse now for Labor to resist real reform to help people and nature."
Though Senator Cox has been added to Labor's ranks, it only has 29 members in the upper house which means the federal government would still need support from the Greens to pass legislation.
Citing an "epidemic" of violence against women, women's safety and equality will become a priority for the party under Senator Waters' leadership.
However, the Greens will continue to take action on environment, housing and the cost of living, Senator Waters said.
Every member of the federal Greens has been allocated to at least one portfolio.
Senator Waters will oversee climate change and energy, and women's issues while her deputy Mehreen Faruqi will be in charge of tertiary education, anti-racism and international aid.
Most members have generally kept to the same portfolios as previously allocated, but some have picked up extra areas to focus on, with Barbara Pocock set to lead housing and Nick McKim heading LGBTQI issues.
Senator Cox's defection came after she reportedly lost a bid to become party deputy and told the new leader to "grow a spine", though Senator Waters said she did not remember the incident.
"There was a lot going on that day," she told the Today show.
"I am a conciliatory person but I'm also pretty firm."
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.
Though Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the allegations had been examined, Nationals senator Matt Canavan said Australians needed answers about whether Labor contacted those who made the claims and what kind of due diligence had been undertaken.
The Greens have unveiled a blueprint to rebuild the party in the aftermath of a senator's shock defection to Labor.
Greens leader Larissa Waters announced she will take over the First Nations portfolio after the minor party's last Indigenous member quit the Greens to join Labor.
Dorinda Cox's move represents another setback for the Greens, following a disappointing federal election result that cost them three out of four seats in the lower house.
But Senator Waters' new portfolio allocations, unveiled on Wednesday, are aimed at providing a fresh start.
"This parliament could achieve real progress," she said.
"With the Greens being in the sole balance of power, there is no excuse now for Labor to resist real reform to help people and nature."
Though Senator Cox has been added to Labor's ranks, it only has 29 members in the upper house which means the federal government would still need support from the Greens to pass legislation.
Citing an "epidemic" of violence against women, women's safety and equality will become a priority for the party under Senator Waters' leadership.
However, the Greens will continue to take action on environment, housing and the cost of living, Senator Waters said.
Every member of the federal Greens has been allocated to at least one portfolio.
Senator Waters will oversee climate change and energy, and women's issues while her deputy Mehreen Faruqi will be in charge of tertiary education, anti-racism and international aid.
Most members have generally kept to the same portfolios as previously allocated, but some have picked up extra areas to focus on, with Barbara Pocock set to lead housing and Nick McKim heading LGBTQI issues.
Senator Cox's defection came after she reportedly lost a bid to become party deputy and told the new leader to "grow a spine", though Senator Waters said she did not remember the incident.
"There was a lot going on that day," she told the Today show.
"I am a conciliatory person but I'm also pretty firm."
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.
Though Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the allegations had been examined, Nationals senator Matt Canavan said Australians needed answers about whether Labor contacted those who made the claims and what kind of due diligence had been undertaken.
The Greens have unveiled a blueprint to rebuild the party in the aftermath of a senator's shock defection to Labor.
Greens leader Larissa Waters announced she will take over the First Nations portfolio after the minor party's last Indigenous member quit the Greens to join Labor.
Dorinda Cox's move represents another setback for the Greens, following a disappointing federal election result that cost them three out of four seats in the lower house.
But Senator Waters' new portfolio allocations, unveiled on Wednesday, are aimed at providing a fresh start.
"This parliament could achieve real progress," she said.
"With the Greens being in the sole balance of power, there is no excuse now for Labor to resist real reform to help people and nature."
Though Senator Cox has been added to Labor's ranks, it only has 29 members in the upper house which means the federal government would still need support from the Greens to pass legislation.
Citing an "epidemic" of violence against women, women's safety and equality will become a priority for the party under Senator Waters' leadership.
However, the Greens will continue to take action on environment, housing and the cost of living, Senator Waters said.
Every member of the federal Greens has been allocated to at least one portfolio.
Senator Waters will oversee climate change and energy, and women's issues while her deputy Mehreen Faruqi will be in charge of tertiary education, anti-racism and international aid.
Most members have generally kept to the same portfolios as previously allocated, but some have picked up extra areas to focus on, with Barbara Pocock set to lead housing and Nick McKim heading LGBTQI issues.
Senator Cox's defection came after she reportedly lost a bid to become party deputy and told the new leader to "grow a spine", though Senator Waters said she did not remember the incident.
"There was a lot going on that day," she told the Today show.
"I am a conciliatory person but I'm also pretty firm."
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.
Though Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the allegations had been examined, Nationals senator Matt Canavan said Australians needed answers about whether Labor contacted those who made the claims and what kind of due diligence had been undertaken.
The Greens have unveiled a blueprint to rebuild the party in the aftermath of a senator's shock defection to Labor.
Greens leader Larissa Waters announced she will take over the First Nations portfolio after the minor party's last Indigenous member quit the Greens to join Labor.
Dorinda Cox's move represents another setback for the Greens, following a disappointing federal election result that cost them three out of four seats in the lower house.
But Senator Waters' new portfolio allocations, unveiled on Wednesday, are aimed at providing a fresh start.
"This parliament could achieve real progress," she said.
"With the Greens being in the sole balance of power, there is no excuse now for Labor to resist real reform to help people and nature."
Though Senator Cox has been added to Labor's ranks, it only has 29 members in the upper house which means the federal government would still need support from the Greens to pass legislation.
Citing an "epidemic" of violence against women, women's safety and equality will become a priority for the party under Senator Waters' leadership.
However, the Greens will continue to take action on environment, housing and the cost of living, Senator Waters said.
Every member of the federal Greens has been allocated to at least one portfolio.
Senator Waters will oversee climate change and energy, and women's issues while her deputy Mehreen Faruqi will be in charge of tertiary education, anti-racism and international aid.
Most members have generally kept to the same portfolios as previously allocated, but some have picked up extra areas to focus on, with Barbara Pocock set to lead housing and Nick McKim heading LGBTQI issues.
Senator Cox's defection came after she reportedly lost a bid to become party deputy and told the new leader to "grow a spine", though Senator Waters said she did not remember the incident.
"There was a lot going on that day," she told the Today show.
"I am a conciliatory person but I'm also pretty firm."
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.
Though Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the allegations had been examined, Nationals senator Matt Canavan said Australians needed answers about whether Labor contacted those who made the claims and what kind of due diligence had been undertaken.
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