In Australian politics, party defections often make headlines, but not all political transitions are created equal. Senator Dorinda Cox’s recent defection from the Greens to Labor has drawn comparisons to Peter Garrett’s political career, though these comparisons reveal more differences than similarities.
Dorinda Cox: A True Defection
Senator Dorinda Cox’s move from the Greens to Labor represents a genuine parliamentary defection. As a sitting Greens Senator for Western Australia, Cox’s announcement came shortly after she missed out on the deputy leadership position to incumbent Mehreen Faruqi following former leader Adam Bandt’s electoral defeat.
According to reports from The Australian, Greens Leader Larissa Waters was informed of Cox’s decision just “an hour prior” to the public announcement. Waters didn’t mince words in her response, questioning how Cox’s values could align with a party that had recently approved the North West Shelf gas project, which UNESCO warns will impact First Nations heritage and ancient rock art.
Interestingly, Cox had previously been a Labor member briefly in her late 20s before joining the Greens. Prime Minister Albanese noted that Cox “didn’t ask for anything” when approaching Labor, and she will join as a backbencher in the Western Australian branch.
Peter Garrett: Not a Defector
Despite occasional comparisons, Peter Garrett’s political journey differs fundamentally from Cox’s. Garrett was never a member of the Greens parliamentary party. The Midnight Oil frontman and environmental activist joined the Labor Party directly in 2004, subsequently winning the Sydney seat of Kingsford Smith in that year’s federal election.
Garrett went on to serve as a cabinet minister in the Rudd/Gillard Labor governments from 2007 to 2013. While he had previously run as a candidate for the Nuclear Disarmament Party in the 1980s, he was never affiliated with the Greens before joining Labor.
The Greens Today: Who Remains?
Following Cox’s defection, the Greens’ parliamentary numbers have been further diminished, though they remain crucial for Labor to pass legislation through the Senate. The current Greens representation in Parliament consists of:
Senate (10 members):
- Larissa Waters – Greens Leader & Senator for Queensland
- Mehreen Faruqi – Deputy Leader & Senator for NSW
- Sarah Hanson-Young – Senator for SA
- Nick McKim – Senator for lutruwita/Tasmania
- Penny Allman-Payne – Senator for Queensland
- Peter Whish-Wilson – Senator for lutruwita/Tasmania
- Jordon Steele-John – Senator for WA
- David Shoebridge – Senator for NSW
- Barbara Pocock – Senator for SA
- Steph Hodgins-May – Senator for Victoria
House of Representatives (1 member):
- Elizabeth Watson-Brown – MP for Ryan
Political Implications
Political analyst Zareh Ghazarian from Monash University noted that “things seem to be getting worse for the Greens,” adding that Cox’s defection would be “particularly galling” for the minor party. While Labor gains one more seat in the Senate, they will still need to negotiate with other senators or the Greens to secure majority votes.
For the Greens, this defection comes at a challenging time. As Troy Bramston observed in The Australian, “The Greens once dreamt of replacing Labor as the main centre-left party but that goal is now extinguished.” Cox’s move may further complicate the party’s efforts to maintain relevance and influence in Australian politics.
Whilst this is a legal blog, sometimes some matters gather my attention and deserve a commentary. Please note that some of this research is AI based – now virtually a norm