Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham rips up membership

Controversial NSW Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham has left the “Marxist” party today and will become an independent.

NSW Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham. Picture: AAP

Controversial NSW Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham has “ripped up” his membership of the “Marxist” party today and will become an independent.

Mr Buckingham was asked to stand aside from the NSW Greens’ upper house ticket earlier this month over allegations of sexual misconduct. He vehemently denies the allegations.

“Today, I’m ripping up my membership of the toxic NSW Greens party. The NSW Greens is a party that has abandoned the important principles of justice and democracy, is dominated by an extreme left faction and has lost its focus on the environment,” he said.

“By contesting the NSW election, I aim to put climate change, coal and the corruption in the management of our rivers firmly on the election agenda.

“I will roll out policies that will challenge the NSW Greens’ Marxist agenda and represent a more genuine green platform aimed at real results rather than posturing.”

Mr Buckingham said he will run as an “independent real Green” in March’s state election.

Allegations against Mr Buckingham have sparked a factional war. Fellow moderate Greens MPs Cate Faehrmann and Justin Field threatened to split from the Greens over the treatment of Mr Buckingham earlier this month. They have since backed down on that threat.

An independent investigation by firm Workdynamic Australia advised the NSW Greens that there was insufficient evidence against Mr Buckingham, and also advised the party make no adverse finding against him.

Mr Buckingham labelled an independent review into the NSW Greens “a bandaid on a weeping wound” and called his party “rotten and corrupt” in a statement to The Australian yesterday.

NSW Greens co-convenor Rochelle Flood said her party welcomed Mr Buckingham’s decision to split from them.

“Greens NSW welcomes Jeremy’s Buckingham’s announcement that he will comply with the Party’s request to stand aside and not run as a Greens candidate in the state election next March,” she said.

“The Greens look forward to running a strong campaign ahead of the state election and to delivering real progressive change for the people of NSW.”

Federal Greens leader Richard Di Natale has welcomed Jeremy Buckingham’s resignation from the NSW Greens, but also said the controversial MP was an “effective campaigner” who made a “significant contribution.”

“I welcome Jeremy Buckingham’s resignation from the NSW Greens following calls from the Australian Greens and his state colleagues,” he said.

“Throughout his time in parliament Mr Buckingham has been an effective campaigner on issues such as coal seam gas and fracking, the Murray Darling and climate change. I thank him for his significant contribution.”

“The Australian Greens will work with the NSW Greens to conduct a comprehensive review and refocus on our mission.”