Tasmanian Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff has accused defector Helen Burnet of struggling to work as part of a team, revealing the former member raised concerns about media exposure before quitting the party.
Woodruff said she was “shocked” and “blindsided” when Burnet called on Friday to announce she was leaving the Greens after two decades to sit as an independent.
“I didn’t expect it or see it coming,” Woodruff said.
She said Burnet had expressed frustrations early last year about not getting enough media exposure, prompting the party to develop protocols for fair distribution of media access.
“Helen did work as a sole operator as a Greens Councillor for nearly two decades. I think she struggled working in a team,” Dr Woodruff said.
Burnet, who was elected as the member for Clark in March last year, told media on Friday she had resigned to amplify voices on issues like the stadium, cost of living, public transport and clean water.
“I have been somewhat frustrated in getting those voices heard,” she said.
But Woodruff said she remained confused by the explanation, noting those issues were core priorities the party discussed daily in parliament.
“Every single day for the last six months, we’ve been talking about the stadium,” she said.
Woodruff said Burnet had recommitted to standing for the Greens just six months ago when she was selected as a candidate and had raised no concerns since the election.
“Since the snap election … I have heard nothing from Helen at all about any of the issues that she says were enough for her to leave the Greens,” she said.
Burnet says her values and beliefs have not changed.
“This is a decision that has not been done in haste,” she said.
When asked if she had betrayed voters who elected her as a Greens candidate, Burnet said people knew what she stood for.
“Those beliefs and values don’t change. It’s just that I won’t be the Greens member for Clark,” she said.
Dr Woodruff said the remaining four Greens MPs in the lower house would continue working together on housing, health and environmental issues.
“We love being in a collective. We love being in a movement,” she said.
