Calls for NSW MP to resign over sexual violence allegations

Greens MP Jenny Leong has made an extraordinary speech in NSW parliament, calling on her Greens colleague Jeremy Buckingham to resign and not contest the March election amid "sexual violence" allegations.

Using parliamentary privilege, Ms Leong said allegations made against Mr Buckingham by former Greens employee Ella Buckland meant Ms Leong could "not stay silent anymore".

Ms Buckland complained in April to the Greens that Mr Buckingham had touched her inappropriately in 2011.

"If he doesn't do this, then I am urging the party to act so that he is no longer a representative or member of the Greens," Ms Leong told the parliament.

"Because we cannot advance our agenda for a more just, more sustainable and more equitable world when so much energy, effort, time, resources and pain has been exhausted trying to manage one man and his unacceptable behaviour.

"There is a need for decisive action to bring this to an end."

Ella Buckland, Jeremy Buckingham and Jenny Leong. 

Ms Leong said Ms Buckland had shown strength by speaking out about "Jeremy's act of sexual violence" towards her and "subsequent disgusting behaviour".

"Let me say on the record, I believe you," Ms Leong said.

Ms Leong and Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi, a former NSW upper house MP, issued a joint statement, saying: "The culture of sexism, sexual harassment, and unwanted sexual advances in society in general and in politics in particular must change."

"Survivors must be listened to and believed. No more excuses. No more delays."

Mr Buckingham released a statement saying: “The allegations raised today were investigated by independent workplace investigation specialists Workdynamic - as per NSW Greens policy - earlier this year and there was no finding of any wrongdoing."

He said the conclusion of the investigation found that there was insufficient evidence "that a reasonable person could conclude, on the balance of probabilities, that an incident/incidents of sexual harassment as defined by the legislation has occurred."

Mr Buckingham said the investigation concluded by saying: "The Greens NSW resolve this matter with no adverse finding against you with respect to sexual harassment or inappropriate behaviour towards Ms Buckland".

He indicated he would not be stepping aside or withdrawing from the Greens' ticket for the upper house.

“I’ve been democratically elected to the parliament and to the NSW Greens Legislative Council ticket by a ballot of all members,” Mr Buckingham.

Speaking outside the chamber after making her statement, Ms Leong defended her use of parliamentary privilege and said she had notified Ms Buckland that she would be raising it in the house.

Ms Leong, the Newtown MP, has been highly critical of Corrections Minister David Elliott's use of parliamentary privilege to raise harassment allegations against former opposition leader Luke Foley.

But Ms Leong said she and her colleague Ms Faruqi made the joint statement as "independent women" who wanted to clear up issues plaguing parliament the society.

"This is not a Greens problem, this is not a Labor problem, Liberals or Nationals problem, it is actually a problem within our society," Ms Leong said.

"It needs to be stopped and the only way we stop it is by calling it out."