Greens leader Adam Bandt has refused to say whether he will discipline Senator Dorinda Cox over allegations of alleged workplace misconduct, including bullying.
At a press conference in Perth on Thursday which Senator Cox did not attend, Bandt deflected on whether he would act on the allegations, noting the complaints had been forwarded to the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service (PWSS).
The PWSS, an independent service for parliamentary staff, was set up in the wake of a review into behaviour in Parliament.
"Our approach is that anytime any staff member comes to me or comes to my team with an issue, we take it very seriously, and we support them to take that complaint through the independent PWSS process," Bandt said.
"That's what's happened here."
According to Nine, multiple complaints have reportedly been made to the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service, as well as to Bandt's office.
"During my time working in the office, I witnessed and experienced disturbing behaviour by Dorinda Cox towards myself and other staff members. These experiences made me concerned for my safety and for the safety of others in the office," an ex-staffer, who was kept anonymous, alleged.
Asked if he should have acted in 2021 after allegedly receiving a complaint, Bandt said: "We've seen in the past that often when staff members bring matters forward, including to others in their party, those matters haven't been treated properly or fairly."
"What we want is any complaint that gets brought forward against anyone should be looked at independently," the Greens leader said.
He cited privacy concerns when asked if he had received anything from the PWSS that required action, stating if any recommendations come from the body, and if they make certain findings, "then of course, of course, we will take these on board".
A report earlier on Thursday in Nine papers alleged 20 staff had left Noongar Yamatji Senator's office in the last three years.
Claims made of Cox's conduct include the behaviour of a "bully", while another reportedly described a mental health decline during their time working for the Senator.
National Indigenous Times has not independently seen the complaints, but an ex-staffer who spoke on the basis of anonymity described the allegations made as aligning with their experiences.
It is understood staffing challenges arose after Cox assumed the First Nations portfolio after Lidia Thorpe's resignation from the party, as well as the added responsibility campaigning for the Voice and moving from a campaign to a Senate office.
On Thursday afternoon ABC reported Senator Cox had responded to the media reports, acknowledging her office can present "challenging circumstances both politically and personally".
In a statement, a Greens spokesperson said the Senator was "very proud of her team and the hard-working people that have been part of it since her election in 2022".
"Senator Cox continues to work respectfully and collaboratively with colleagues and her team and will continue to work to incorporate a holistic work life balance in her offices," the spokesperson said.
"Senator Cox continues to be very grateful to the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service for the work they do in helping offices across the country, including hers, despite what can be challenging circumstances both politically and personally."
In a separate statement on Thursday afternoon, Cox's office released a statement with multiple positive comments about the Senator from anonymous current and former employees.
The statement, however, did not contain a response to allegations from the Senator herself.
Another former staffer who spoke on condition of anonymity to National Indigenous Times said the bullying accusations didn't level with their experience working with Senator Cox.
