Following the exposure of his relationship with a staff member, Sam Hibbins, the Member for Prahran in Victoria, has resigned from the Greens but will continue to serve as an independent in Parliament. The 42-year-old, who is married with two children, has faced condemnation from Greens state leader Ellen Sandell.
Sandell expressed her loss of trust in Hibbins and stated that he will not be welcomed back into the Greens party room. She emphasized the importance of respect and safety in the workplace, especially for women.
Allegations of inappropriate behavior by Hibbins were reported to the Department of Parliamentary Services, leading to his suspension and subsequent resignation from the Greens. Despite serving as co-deputy leader of the state party, Hibbins decided to leave the party room.
Due to the confidentiality surrounding the allegations and to protect the identity of the employee involved, specific details could not be disclosed by the Greens leader. Sandell also mentioned an earlier incident involving Hibbins, which was reported and subsequently withdrawn by the complainant.
In a statement, Hibbins acknowledged his error in judgment and the distress caused by his actions. He stated that the consensual relationship had ended some time ago and expressed his commitment to focus on his family and make amends for his breach of party room rules.
Despite his resignation from the Greens, Hibbins confirmed that he will continue to serve as an independent MP in the state parliament. Following his resignation, his profile was removed from the Victorian Greens website and his personal website was taken offline.
