Greens co-deputy quits over affair with staffer
Victorian Greens co-deputy Sam Hibbins is standing down from the party room after admitting to having a consensual relationship with a staffer.
In a statement released on Friday morning, the Prahran MP said the short relationship ended “some time ago”, but admitted it had breached party rules.
Victorian Greens co-deputy Sam Hibbins.
“I accept the consequences of my decisions that affect my personal and professional lives,” Hibbins said in the statement.
Hibbins is married and has two children.
“I am working to make amends to the most important people in my life, my family and our community. We are human and we make mistakes,” he said.
“I’ve always worked hard to advance the Greens’ cause, and know this is a distraction from my work and the work of the Greens, but I remain committed to serving my electorate of Prahran.”
Hibbins, who was one of the first Greens politicians elected to the Victorian lower house, will continue to sit on the crossbench. He said he leaves the party with “goodwill” towards his colleagues.
Greens leader Ellen Sandell will hold a press conference at 12.30pm. Her office’s media alert said she would discuss “serious allegations concerning the member for Prahran”.
In his statement on Friday, Hibbins said he recognised he had made a significant error of judgment.
“At a time when life is so difficult for so many, when people are struggling and are already disengaged from politics, I know something like this will shake people’s trust in politicians and politics even further,” he said.
Victorian Greens MP Sam Hibbins outside the St Kilda Town Hall voting centre in November 2022.Credit: AAP
“The important thing is making amends and focusing on what really matters. For me, it’s my beautiful family.”
Hibbins became the party’s deputy leader, alongside first-term upper house MP Sarah Mansfield, in April after former leader Samantha Ratnam announced she was quitting state politics to run for the federal seat of Wills.
In a since deleted social media post, the MP wished his “amazing, beautiful” wife a happy 40th birthday on social media in March this year. He also thanked her in his maiden speech when she was his then-fiancee.
“She has been an amazing support, without which support I would not be here today,” he told parliament.
Since winning the seat of Prahran from the Liberals at the November 2014 election, Hibbins has campaigned for grocery price caps and railed against privatisation.
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