Another parliament engulfed in scandal as MP quits party – Australian Associated Press
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Another parliament engulfed in scandal as MP quits party – Australian Associated Press

A Victorian Greens MP has been forced to quit his party over an affair with a staffer as another parliament is mired in scandal.

Sam Hibbins, the MP for Prahran, announced he is resigning from the Greens and will sit as an independent on Friday after having a “consensual relationship with a staff member, which breached party rules”.

Party leader Ellen Sandell said she had received a complaint on Tuesday about her deputy and, after meeting with him, said some allegations were confirmed while others were disputed.

The staff involved were “very concerned” and Sandell said the party was doing everything it could to support them.

The Green leader expressed his anger, saying Hibbins did not meet the standards of behavior and expectations of an MP, failing to call for him to resign from Parliament.

Victorian Greens leader Ellen Sandell
Sam Hibbins would not be welcome back in the Greens party room, leader Ellen Sandell said. Image by James Ross/AAP PHOTO

“He is no longer a member of our party room, and he will never be welcomed back as a member of our party room,” Sandell said.

Mr Hibbins, who is married with two children, said he was aware his announcement was a distraction from his work with the Greens, but he “remains committed to serving (his) constituents in Prahran”.

“I accept the consequences of my decisions,” he said.

“I am working to make amends to the most important people in my life, my family and our community.”

It is not the first time this parliamentary term has seen controversy after Prime Minister Jacinta Allan dumped two Labor MPs, Will Fowles and Darren Cheeseman, over previous cases of alleged misconduct.

Former Victorian Greens leader Greg Barber had allegations of sexism leveled against him during his time in Parliament, including claims he had a “men’s room” in his office, according to the ABC.

Mr Barber has previously said he could not comment on the allegations, even to defend himself, because he was under a confidentiality agreement pending a legal settlement.

The NSW Greens were embroiled in bullying allegations in 2018 after former MP Jeremy Buckingham, now Upper House member for Legalize Cannabis, alleged party members were bullied into asking him to resign.

He had been the subject of a sexual harassment allegation in 2011 that was reopened under parliamentary privilege by faction rival Jenny Leong, although an independent inquiry recommended no adverse findings against him and he had denied the alleged incident.

ACT Greens backbencher Johnathan Davis resigned from the party and parliament in 2023 after he was ousted amid allegations of sexual misconduct.

He has not been charged and has not received a formal finding from any authorities.

West Australian Greens Senator Dorinda Cox apologized in October for failings following allegations of bullying after 20 staff left her office in three years.

But the senator said there was a “disappointingly significant lack of context” around the situation.