Victoria’s Greens leader says she received a complaint about the state party’s co-deputy before he quit over a relationship with a staffer.
Prahran MP Sam Hibbins on Friday announced he was resigning from the Greens and will sit as an independent MP after having a “consensual relationship with a staff member, which breached party rules”.
“I recognise this was a significant error of judgement and understand the distress this has caused,” he wrote in a statement.
After his announcement, Victorian Greens leader Ellen Sandell told reporters the Department of Parliamentary Services had informed her on Tuesday about an allegedly serious complaint against Mr Hibbins.
She said the complaint involved inappropriate behaviour towards a staff member.
“I met with him (Mr Hibbins) … my understanding from then and from his statement today is that he confirms some of those allegations and contests others of those allegations,” she told reporters.
Ms Sandell said the member of staff was “very distressed” and the party was doing everything in its power to support them.
Mr Hibbins has been contacted for his response to these claims.
Ms Sandell said Mr Hibbins did not “meet the standards of behaviour expected of any MP”.
“I am angry. Every single person, but especially women, deserve respect and safety everywhere, and especially in their workplace,” she said.
Federal Greens leader Adam Bandt said he supported Ms Sandell and the Victorian Greens partyroom’s “immediate and decisive action”.
Mr Hibbins, who is married with two children, said he was aware his announcement was a distraction from his work with the Greens but will “remain committed to serving (his) electorate of 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.”
Department of Parliamentary Services secretary Trish Burrows did not confirm whether the office was investigating a complaint against Mr Hibbins, but said she takes her obligations to all staff seriously.
“All workplace issues raised with DPS are managed appropriately with the wellbeing of staff at the centre, this includes fulfilling our privacy obligations in relation to staff,” told AAP.
