Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham defies calls to stand down

Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham has asked federal leader Richard di Natale not to buckle to factional pressure.

Mr Buckingham has denied the allegations. Picture: AAP

Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham is defying calls from within his own party to stand down as he asks federal leader Richard di Natale not to buckle to factional pressure.

Mr Buckingham is under pressure to step aside and to not recontest the next election over allegations he inappropriately touched former staffer Ella Buckland in 2011.

Senator di Natale called for Mr Buckingham to stand down after NSW lower house MP Jenny Leong used parliamentary privilege on Tuesday on to accuse Mr Buckingham of committing an “act of sexual violence”.

Greens NSW released a statement yesterday joining calls for Mr Buckingham to stand aside.

Mr Buckingham’s upper house factional allies Cate Faehrmann and Justin Field have accused Ms Leong of using the allegations as a “political weapon”.

Mr Buckingham said, in an email addressed to Senator di Natale seen by The Australian, that the presumptions of innocence and procedural fairness should not be abandoned to placate the left faction of the party.

“The principles of the presumption of innocence and procedural fairness must be a key feature of any Greens party.

“If we abandon the vitally important principles of a presumption of innocence and procedural fairness in an attempt to placate the left Renewal faction that has infiltrated our party, then what kind of party is the Australian Greens?”

“I request you make a public statement re-affirming your support for the principles of the presumption of innocence and procedural fairness.”

Mr Buckingham has denied the allegations and an independent investigation found insufficient evidence to substantiate the claims.