'An orchestrated political hit': NSW Greens party room in turmoil

The NSW Greens party room is in turmoil just months from the election, with upper house MP Justin Field the latest to accuse his colleague Jenny Leong of an "orchestrated political hit" against one of their own MPs.

Mr Field criticised Ms Leong for using "parliamentary privilege to publicly and politically destroy another Greens MP."

He joined fellow Greens MPs Cate Faehrmann and Dawn Walker in condemning Ms Leong's use of parliamentary privilege to call on Jeremy Buckingham to quit Parliament amid allegations of "sexual violence".

Ms Leong told Parliament that the allegations made against Mr Buckingham, also a Greens upper house MP, meant he could not remain in Parliament and should not run for the Greens in March.

Former Greens employee Ella Buckland made a complaint to the party in April, alleging Mr Buckingham inappropriately touched her in 2011.

An internal investigation cleared Mr Buckingham and he has denied the allegations.

Greens Upper House MP Justin Field.

Mr Field said he did not support Ms Leong's decision to make the statement in Parliament on Tuesday and "she does not speak for me or the party I feel I belong to".

"Jenny’s statement was first and foremost an opportunistic effort to destroy and a continuation of a relentless effort by some in the Greens to use this complaint to force Jeremy out of the party," Mr Field said.

"At the Greens Party room just hours before her statement Jenny threatened to use parliamentary privilege to call for Jeremy’s resignation and to allege other unspecified allegations if he did not resign."

He said the statement was an "orchestrated political hit".

"It was not designed to improve the party's processes or ensure a safe space for women or others," Mr Field said.

Greens MP Jenny Leong speaking to the media on Tuesday. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

"It offered no way forward other than to demand a political outcome that has been pursued relentlessly by certain people for years."

Another Greens MP, Dawn Walker, also said that there had been a "concerted effort over the last few years to try to exploit sexual harassment and assault allegations to smear political opponents within the Greens".

"As a woman, this concerns me greatly because such allegations should be not weaponised and should be treated with sensitivity and through proper processes," Ms Walker said.

"It seems we are now at a point where some MPs have abandoned basic principles of justice for public accusations."

Ms Faehrmann – who replaced Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi in the upper house – said while she did not "know any woman who hasn’t experienced sexism, sexual harassment or sexual violence", it could not be used as a political weapon.

"Once we begin challenging the presumption of innocence we are on a very dangerous path, indeed, and one that has the potential to return us to the bad old days of mob rule," Ms Faehrmann said.

Ms Leong and Ms Faruqi also issued a joint statement on the issue, saying: "The culture of sexism, sexual harassment and unwanted sexual advances in society in general and in politics in particular must change."

Jeremy Buckingham is refusing to step down after an allegation related to former Greens employee Ella Buckland was aired in Parliament. Credit: Fairfax Media/Supplied

A statement from the NSW Greens, released late on Wednesday, said: "Speaking on behalf of the party’s elected bodies, we support the concerns expressed by Jenny and Mehreen, and affirm their invitation for Jeremy to stand aside and not contest the next election.

"We affirm support for women and we commit to working to achieve justice for all survivors.

"In accordance with our party’s robust grassroots democratic processes, we note that a motion to discuss this matter will be put to the next State Delegates Council meeting in December."

Fellow Greens MP David Shoebridge tweeted on Tuesday: "Deep respect for this statement from Jenny and Mehreen. I don't believe Jeremy Buckingham should remain on the Greens election ticket."

The Greens' MP for Balmain, Jamie Parker, said he supported Ms Leong and Ms Faruqi's statement.