James Morrow opinion: What Greens senator’s move reveals about Albo’s ‘Labor values’

The phrase “Labor values” gets thrown around a lot by the PM these days, but his willingness to accept a controversial defector from the Greens tells us what the party’s real values are, writes James Morrow.

The phrase “Labor values” is certainly getting a bit of a workout these days.

It’s one of those magic spells Anthony Albanese likes to cast, along with “that’s who we are as Australians” and “I grew up in public housing”, designed to make whatever he’s up to seem not only morally right, but unassailable.

The only risk the prime minister has in deploying the strategy is that people might stop to think a bit too deeply about what “Labor values” actually mean in practice.

Because if they do, they might find that “Labor values” means about as much to doing the right thing as “discount petrol station sushi” means to fine Japanese cuisine.

The latest example?

Albanese’s warm hearted embrace of former Greens senator Dorinda Cox, who has just made a Jacinta-like jump to the Labor Party room.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at a press conference announcing former Green's senator Dorinda Cox has joined the Labor Party. He said her values aligned with Labor’s. Picture: NewsWire / Philip Gostelow

Cox’s “values are perfectly consistent with the values of the Labor Party,” Albanese said, questioned about the move, which raised eyebrows for a number of reasons, not the least of which being the senator’s own chequered history.

Among other things, Cox is alleged to have been quite the office bully, having been accused by numerous former staffers of running a toxic workplace.

Numerous reports have quoted staffers both on and off the record alleging Cox undermined them, demeaned them, and left them concerned for their psychological wellbeing.

Cox has consistently denied the claims.

She argued they lacked context, however apologised for any distress her staff felt, saying at the time she took responsibility “for any shortcomings in what has occurred during this period”.

One complainant, quoted in The Australian, described her two months in Cox’s office as “a nightmare”.

Senator Dorinda Cox in the Senate at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Cox also, in an embarrassing text message leak, was revealed to have called fellow senator a “f***ing r******”, which is neither collegial or politically correct.

Meanwhile, Jewish groups have raised concerns that Labor is taking on a senator who was until about five seconds ago a member of a party which has been condemned for anti-Semitism and who personally took part in pro-Palestine rallies.

Are these really, ahem, “Labor values”?

The newest member of the ALP arrives with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to tell the media her big news. Picture: Philip Gostelow

Obviously the PM was happy to welcome Cox into the fold and has said the allegations have been “dealt with”, trusting (as the saying goes) that this is the end of the matter.

But the real question is not whether there is a gap between Cox’s alleged misdeeds and Labor’s own values, but rather whether there is all too much of an alignment.

Certainly Labor is no stranger to bullying complaints, whether within their own offices or on the floor of parliament.

Defence minister Richard Marles has recently settled a bullying claim from his own chief of staff.

Jo Tarnawsky, claimed she was pushed out of her role after making bullying claims against fellow staffers in Mr Marles office.

Addressing the allegations last year, Mr Marles told parliament he was satisfied he had upheld the ministerial code of conduct, including maintaining a safe and respectful workplace for staff.

The late Senator Kimberley Kitching was alleged to have experienced an ongoing bullying campaign by Labor “mean girls” Penny Wong, Kristina Keneally, and Katy Gallagher.

And on it goes. The trio have all vigorously denied this claim.

Look, politics is a rough and tumble business and it is not for those who cannot cope with the occasional (metaphorical) sharp elbow to the ribs.

But at the same time, it is fair to wonder given all that history whether the PM was actually being a little too accurate when he suggested Cox is a good fit with the values of the ALP.

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Originally published as James Morrow opinion: What Greens senator’s move reveals about Albo’s ‘Labor values’