SA Greens MLC Tammy Franks resigns from party, citing ‘unfair’ behaviour

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The Greens have been left with one representative is state parliament after a shock resignation from the party today. Long serving MLC Tammy Franks says she is saddened to leave the party that she co-led but says ongoing internal issues have left her with no choice.

Transcript

00:00Thwarted ambitions, grudges and grievances.

00:06After 15 years as a Greens MLC, Tammy Franks says she can take no more.

00:12I couldn't do the job while I was watching my back when I needed to be looking forward.

00:17The Greens co-leader in SA Parliament quitting amid claims she's been undermined for political

00:22reasons.

00:23It gives me no pleasure to have walked into the party room of the Greens this morning

00:28and have resigned, but I felt I had no choice.

00:31Ms Franks says she was served with more than 100 pages of accusations, ranging from trivial

00:37complaints through to purported bullying, which she says was based on untested and untrue allegations.

00:44A statement released by the party this afternoon said it would not be making any comment in

00:50relation to the allegations raised, and noted Ms Franks had last year announced she would

00:55not recontest her seat.

00:57She'll now sit on the crossbench as an independent and isn't ruling out another run.

01:02The departure leaves Robert Sims as the only remaining Greens member in State Parliament.

01:07This is a profoundly disappointing outcome for the Greens and for me personally.

01:13Ms Franks will join several MPs who have resigned from their parties to join the crossbench as

01:19independents, including Upper House colleagues Jing Li and Frank Pangelo.

01:24But it was a move that blindsided many.

01:26I'm shocked to be honest.

01:28I don't think anyone was expecting this.

01:31You know, I'm really taken aback and surprised by it.

01:34Yet another change to the make-up of Parliament as a state election looms.

01:39You know, the

01:516th, 4th through the

01:5112th, 8th, 9th.

01:53That's a change to the crowd in front of their friends.

01:57So, what do you know?

01:58It's a change to the world.

01:59That's a change to the world, isn't it?

02:00You know, we uh…

02:01Yeah.

02:01Peg, I'm going to go ahead,

02:02with us.

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