Greens MP ‘will never be welcomed back’ after contact with staff – Australian Associated Press

A politician forced to resign from the Victorian Greens over a relationship with a staff member will never be accepted back into the party.

Prahran MP Sam Gibbins announced on Friday that he was quitting the Green Party to remain an independent MP after he had a “consensual relationship with a staff member which breached party rules”.

Mr Hibbins said he left the party with “good will” towards his colleagues.

But leader Ellen Sandell has hit out at her former deputy, expressing anger at being left to deal with the fallout from his actions, which she found were the subject of a complaint.

She said the Department of Parliamentary Services informed her on Tuesday of an alleged serious complaint against Mr Hibbins relating to inappropriate behavior towards a staff member.

“He is no longer a member of our party room and will never be accepted back as a member of our party room,” Ms Sandell told reporters.

“He doesn’t meet the standards of behavior and the expectations that I and my entire team have… I don’t think he meets the standards of behavior that are expected of any MP.”

Ms Sandell said she understood Mr Gibbins had confirmed some of the allegations and denied others.

She said the staff member was “very upset” and was supported by the party.

Mr Gibbins has been contacted for comment.

In an earlier statement, he said he deeply regretted his actions.

“I recognize that this was a significant error in judgment and I understand the distress this has caused,” he wrote on social media.

Ms Sandell said the revelation angered her.

“This is a problem with the behavior of men in society, in all institutions, including here, and too often women pick up the pieces,” the Greens leader said.

“The prime minister should have done it, I’m doing it here today.”

Jacinta Allan has suspended two Labor MPs, Will Fowles and Darren Cheeseman, for this term in Parliament due to previous incidents of alleged misconduct.

“To think that the Parliamentary Integrity Commissioner could have prevented this behavior is a very valid question,” Ms Sandell said.

A long-delayed bill to establish a commission to investigate allegations of corruption and misconduct will come into force later this year.

But while the legislation will offer a formal mechanism to deal with and investigate any complaint, this body will not have retrospective powers.

In October, the House of Commons passed legislation to create an independent parliamentary standards commission to enforce standards of conduct and investigate conduct in the workplace.

Politicians who violate the code of conduct can be fined between two and five percent of their base salary or be suspended from parliament.

Federal Greens leader Adam Bandt said he supported Ms Sandell and the party’s “immediate and decisive action”.

Mr Hibbins, who is married with two children, said he was aware his announcement would take him away from working with the Greens but would “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.”

Parliamentary Services Secretary Trish Burrows would not confirm whether the office was investigating the complaint against Mr Gibbins, but said it took its obligations to all staff seriously.

“All workplace issues that arise at DPS are dealt with appropriately with the welfare of staff at the center in mind, this includes meeting our confidentiality obligations to staff,” she told AAP.