WA senator Dorinda Cox abandons Greens for Labor after ‘deep reflection’

West Australian Greens senator Dorinda Cox has made the shock announcement she is leaving the party to join the Labor Party.

She broke the bombshell news standing alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Perth on Monday afternoon, saying she looked forward to “serving as a proud Labor senator”.

Senator Cox said deep reflection led her to the decision and she wanted to build on her existing relationships with “an already amazing team of Labor MPs” around the country.

“I am very, very grateful for this opportunity and I want to thank the Labor team for welcoming me,” she said.

“I’ve spoken to the Prime Minister about the work I would like to do in the future.

“I will continue to be focused and committed to the work in my home state of WA, and I look forward to serving as a proud Labor Senator in the 48th Parliament.”

Mr Albanese noted Senator Cox had previously been a Labor Party member and welcomed her back to the fold.

“I must say that Dorinda and I have had more discussions in recent days than we had in previous years, and that’s the nature of the Senate and the House of Representatives in Canberra,” he said.

“Senator Cox didn’t ask for anything, just asked for this to be considered.

“The National Executive Committee of the Labor Party met yesterday afternoon, and Senator Cox will be admitted to the Labor Party as a member tomorrow to the Western Australian branch.”

Senator Cox said she informed new Greens leader Larissa Waters of her move about half an hour before the press conference.

“I have a good personal relationship with her as the leader of the Greens, and she wished me well on my future prospects,” she said of the “very good conversation”.

New Greens leader Larissa Waters said she was “disappointed” about Senator Cox’s decision to join the Labor party as a backbencher but wished her well.

Senator Waters also confirmed she had only learned of the move just prior to Senator Cox’s Perth press conference.

“Senator Cox would have had more chance of effecting change by continuing to work with the Greens in the sole balance of power,” she said.

“The Greens are disappointed in Senator Cox’s decision to leave. We wish her well.”

The WA Labor machine also only found out about the defection on Monday.

Senator Cox unsuccessfully contested two leadership positions in the Greens’ post-election party room meeting in May, putting her hand up for deputy leader and deputy whip.

Her deflection decision is understood to be more about the WA branches efforts to oust her from the party, as opposed to a lack of support for Ms Waters.

The WA Greens Senator has previously been accused of bullying office staff and in October last year issued a statement apologising to staff for the “distress”.

She had said: “As the employer, I take responsibility for any shortcomings in what has occurred during this period and I apologise for the distress this may have caused.”

It’s understood another driver of Senator Cox’s decision to jump ship came as she was worried about pre-selection at the next election.

During the press conference, Senator Cox said she had worked hard behind the scenes during the recent Federal election campaign to help fellow WA Senator Jordan Steele-John and had loyalty for the party during that process.

“I was committed to the work that I was doing in the Greens. I was out campaigning as the support office to Senator Steele-John, and we returned him to the Senate as part of that.,” she said.

“What I will say is that my loyalty during the time that I campaigned for the Greens was to deliver and return our 11 senators and our one House of representative member.”

While it was all smiles by Mr Albanese when announcing Senator Cox was joining his team, he then moved to shut down the press conference when she started getting peppered with questions about the North West Shelf.

After Murray Watt last Wednesday gave provisional approval to Woodside’s expansion to 2070, Senator Cox had said it “must not go ahead”.

However, when asked about it and the cultural heritage concerns with the project on Monday, she claimed it wasn’t her place to make public commentary.

“I would need to look at the provisional approval that’s been made by Minister Watt. Again, I wouldn’t like to make any public commentary on what those restrictions are,” Senator Cox, a Yamatji-Noongar woman, said.

Shortly afterwards the PM stepped in: “Can I perhaps make a comment as well?”

He then went on to say she had shifted to Labor to “make a difference” which is why he decided to join the Labor party as a “very young man”.

“The values that Dorinda has are perfectly consistent with the values of the Labor Party,” the PM said.

“And I’m sure that she will pursue those as a member of the caucus.”

Before he signed off: “Thank you very much, and I’ll see you all tomorrow.”