Victorian Greens MP resigns following allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards female staffer

Victorian Greens MP Sam Hibbins claims he had a ‘consensual relationship’ with a branch employee, but colleagues say he was ‘behaving inappropriately’ and has breached the party’s guidelines.

Sam Hibbins has resigned as the Greens member for the Victorian state seat of Prahran.

The co-deputy leader of the Victoria Greens has resigned after he was suspended from the partyroom following “serious and concerning allegations” of inappropriate behaviour towards his female staff member.

Member for Prahran Sam Hibbins was suspended on Tuesday after Victorian Greens leader Ellen Sandell received allegations from parliamentary services of Mr Hibbins “behaving inappropriately towards a staff member over a period of time”.

Ms Sandell said Mr Hibbins’s behaviour was a “clear breach” of the Greens’ guidelines and rules for MPs, and confirmed he had resigned from the partyroom and as a Greens member.

“I want to say very clearly that I am angry,” Ms Sandell said in a statement issued on Friday.

“Everyone, especially wom­en, deserve respect and safety in their workplace. The member for Prahran has completely lost my trust, and the trust of his colleagues, and he will never be welcomed back to our partyroom.”

Ms Sandell said her primary concern was for the staff member’s wellbeing, and said none of her MPs or supervising senior staff had any knowledge of the alleged behaviour before Tuesday. She said the staff member had asked for privacy.

“Women do not deserve to have their lives dragged through the media because of the behaviour of men,” she said.

Ms Sandell said Mr Hibbins had undergone the required training regarding his responsibilities as an MP, and the Greens had clear rules and processes to keep staff safe, but Mr Hibbins had chosen to breach the rules.

In a statement issued on Friday morning, Mr Hibbins announced he was standing down from the Greens partyroom on Friday following “a consensual relationship” with a staff member from his office.

“I recognise this was a significant error of judgment and understand the distress this has caused,” Mr Hibbins said in a post on Instagram.

“This short relationship ended some time ago, but it does breach our partyroom rules.

“I accept the consequences of my decisions that affect my personal and professional lives.”

Mr Hibbins, who is married and has two children, said he was working to make amends to “the most important people in my life, my family and our community”.

“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,” Mr Hibbins said.

“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.

“I leave the partyroom with goodwill towards my Greens colleagues. They’re doing a terrific job. I wish them well in the future. I deeply regret what has happened.

“I have made a very human mistake, but I am working to find the best way forward.”

Mr Hibbins has held the seat of Prahran, which is in Melbourne’s inner east, since 2014.

Ms Sandell said the public was not informed of Tuesday’s decision until Friday because the staffer was unable to meet her until Thursday.