Victorian Greens MP Sam Hibbins has been forced to resign from the party after having an affair with a staffer, and is facing further “serious allegations” about his behaviour.
The member for Prahran, who is married with two children, admitted to the relationship with his staff member this morning.
Hibbins had been sacked as Victorian Greens co-deputy leader and suspended from the party room after party leader Ellen Sandell was told of the affair on Tuesday evening.
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While Hibbins described the affair as a “short” and “consensual” affair that ended “some time ago”, Sandell said she received “serious and concerning allegations” about his behaviour.
She didn’t detail exactly what those further allegations are in order to protect the staffer’s identity.
“I hope you’ll understand that there are a number of details that I cannot share in order to maintain this privacy,” Sandell said.
“Women do not deserve to have their lives dragged through the media because of the behaviour of men.”
She said Victoria Police is not investigating Hibbins.
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“I am angry. Everyone, especially women, deserves respect and safety in their workplace,” Sandell said.
“The member for Prahran has completely lost my trust, and the trust of his colleagues, and he will never be welcomed back to our party room.”
Hibbins described his actions as “a very human mistake”.
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“We are human, and we make mistakes,” he said.
“The important thing is making amends and focusing on what really matters.
“For me, it’s my beautiful family.”
Rather than quit parliament over the affair, Hibbins will join the crossbench to sit as an independent.
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