NSW Greens push for MP to resign from the upper house after he's accused of 'sexual violence' against former staff member – but he says the decision is 'corrupt and rotten'
- The party's New South Wales branch has agreed to boot MP Jeremy Buckingham
- The request for him to resign follows a complaint alleging sexual misconduct
- A Greens MP had called on him to resign over an ex-staff member's complaint
- Mr Buckingham strenuously denies the allegation and has hit out at the decision
NSW Greens have voted to ask MP Jeremy Buckingham to resign from the upper house after he was the subject of a complaint alleging sexual misconduct by a former employee of the party.
The Greens' State Delegates Council passed a request Mr Buckingham vacate his position and ticket during a meeting on Saturday following the allegation.
The MP has hit out at the decision, accusing the party's state branch of being 'corrupt and rotten'.
NSW Greens have voted to boot MP Jeremy Buckingham (pictured) from the upper house after he was accused of sexual violence towards a former employee of the party
Mr Buckingham has been the subject of a 2011 sexual harassment allegation, and factional rival Jenny Leong called on him to resign last month.
Ms Leong said under parliamentary privilege the complaint by ex-Greens staff member Ella Buckland meant the upper house member could 'not stay silent anymore'.
An independent investigation recommended no adverse findings against him though, having been unable to substantiate Ms Buckland's claims Mr Buckingham touched her inappropriately.
In a statement given by Mr Buckingham last month, he said the allegation was 'investigated by independent workplace investigation specialists Workdynamic — as per NSW Greens policy — earlier this year and there was no finding of any wrongdoing.'
The Workdynamic statement read: 'The NSW Greens resolve this matter with no adverse finding against you with respect to sexual harassment or inappropriate behaviour towards Ms Buckland.'
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The investigation had spoken to female witnesses who corroborated Mr Buckingham's version of events.
The party agreed on Saturday Mr Buckingham's presence would stop the party from campaigning effectively ahead of next year's election.
An initial no-confidence motion was unsuccessful, but an amended motion calling for him to remove himself from the tickets was passed with consensus.
Two delegates registered dissent, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
In a statement lashing out at his party, Mr Buckingham said the Greens had thrown 'justice under the bus'.
Mr Buckingham has been the subject of a 2011 sexual harassment allegation, and factional rival Jenny Leong called on him to resign last month
'While ... I have poured my heart and soul into the Greens for nearly 16 years, the fact is the NSW Greens as an organisation is corrupt and rotten,' he said following Saturday's vote.
'It's a sad and disappointing day for the NSW Greens.'
Mr Buckingham, who has been under sustained pressure to resign despite denying the allegations, said the party had rewarded the bullies and the lynch mob.
But the MP stopped short of commenting on whether he would resign, saying he would hold a media conference in Sydney on Sunday to provide further information.
He said the proposal to request his resignation was factional warfare and it abandoned grassroots democracy by overturning a democratic preselection result.
