Indigenous activist accuses Greens of racism and bias over preselection rejection

High-profile social justice campaigner Megan Krakouer hit out at the Greens for the party’s ‘unfair practices’ in blocking her candidacy for a federal seat.

High-profile Indigenous social justice advocate Megan Krakouer has criticised the Greens after the party blocked her candidacy for the federal seat of Fremantle.

The Greens are dealing with fresh internal ructions after social justice campaigner Megan Krakouer – an Aboriginal woman who had intended to represent the party at this year’s federal election – cut ties in an excoriating post on ­social media.

Ms Krakouer accused the Greens of racism and said the party lacked fairness after what The Australian understands were internal objections to her planned candidacy for the federal seat of Fremantle in Perth’s south.

It is understood the Greens told Ms Krakouer she could not be a candidate.

On Wednesday, she told her social media followers: “I have now formally ended my membership with the Greens party ... and I feel a strong sense of liberation.

“At the appropriate time, I plan to reveal my experiences of ­racism, bias, power plays, no procedural fairness, discrimination and unfair practices in the Greens that I endured at the hands of individuals who claim to be advocates for inclusivity,” she wrote.

The Australian understands Ms Krakouer’s tilt for preselection had the support of some senior figures inside the Greens including senator Dorinda Cox. However, others in the party did not support her becoming a candidate.

On Thursday, WA Greens co-convenor Giz Watson said Ms Krakouer had joined the Greens “very recently”.

“She almost immediately nominated to be a candidate and was disappointed not to gain nomination for the seat of Fremantle,” she said. “The Greens (WA) have followed our usual pre-selected process.”

The Australian has contacted the office of federal Greens leader Adam Bandt about Ms Krakouer’s allegations.

Ms Krakouer is a Menang woman from the farming town of Mount Barker in Western Australia’s Great Southern region.

Events that led to the decision to rule her out of preselection for Fremantle are the subject of backbiting inside the Greens.

In 2023, Ms Krakouer was one of three experts appointed by the South Australian government to investigate the “white hands on black art” scandal uncovered by The Australian.

She and fellow panellists interviewed 200-plus people across the sector, including dozens of Indigenous artists, over a four-month period. They found alleged un­ethical practices in every area the panel was tasked to investigate, from white studio staff painting on Indigenous canvases to allegations of fraud and bullying.

In WA, Ms Krakouer has been a conduit between police and Indigenous families in difficult circumstances involving violence, crime and grief.

She advocated for Mechelle Turvey after her 15-year-old son Cassius was assaulted on his way home from school in 2022. Cassius – a Noongar Yamatji boy – died 10 days later. Ms Turvey now educates WA police recruits on how to deal with victims of crime.

Ms Krakouer is also credited with bringing public attention to the disappearance in recent years of six young Aboriginal men with an intriguing set of circumstances or contacts in common. As a direct result of Ms Krakouer’s campaigning, the Cook government is offering a reward of $500,000 for information that solves a long-term missing person case.

Ms Krakouer is director of the National Suicide Prevention and Trauma Recovery Project.