Several staffers who worked for Greens senator Dorinda Cox have accused the Noongar woman of presiding over a toxic workplace.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported on Thursday that it had spoken to ten former staffers, both on and off the record, about their tumultuous time in the senator's office.
A common theme was the senator's allegedly overbearing demeanour, which several said amounted to bullying.
Aunty Esther Montgomery was employed as a community liaison in the senator's office.
The Mardathoonera woman said her initial enthusiasm for working for Ms Cox was quickly disappointed, lasting only six weeks in the office.
“She continually undermines you, but she wouldn’t let me get out or meet people," she told the SMH.
"She wouldn’t allow me to collaborate with people on grassroots work. I said that was impossible. She would put me down, psychologically ... She’s no shrinking violet.”
Contact was made by multiple employees with the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service (PWSS), communicating their concerns, and at least one formal complaint was made, a copy of which was provided to the Sydney Morning Herald.
“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,” the complaint reads.
“I spent much of the time feeling like I was walking on eggshells just waiting for Dorinda to explode at me."
Party leader Adam Bandt was also made aware of the behaviour.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Mr Bandt confirmed the complaints were being examined by the PWSS.
"Our approach is that any time any staff member comes to me or comes my team with an issue, we take it very seriously and we asupport them to take that complaint through the independent PWSS process," he said.
"That's what's happened here with complaints that have been brought forward ... and that's the right way to go."
Asked whether there would be consequences for Senator Cox, Mr Bandt said he would wait for recommendations from the PWSS.
The senator's office has had a turnover of some 20 staff members over the last three years.
Ms Cox became the party's First Nations spokesperson after Lidia Thorpe left the Greens to become an independent senator.
