Linda Eisler. One of the complainants.
The article NSW Greens’ Conflict Resolution Committee hearing Buckingham complaint disbands 1 contains some errors.
It was eight ordinary but active Greens NSW members who lodged the complaint about Jeremy Buckingham in relation to his statements to ABC’s Four Corners program, containing misinformation about the party and colleagues.
Lee Rhiannon provided a statement of fact which we included in the complaint but she is not one of the eight members who filed the complaint.
Justin Field making public commentary about a legitimate complaint and the formal complaint process while it is underway is inappropriate. Many see it as an attempt to undermine the complaint process rather than have the matter dealt with on its merits.
Justin criticises the concept that a small committee should deal with a complaint. The committee is made up of randomly selected members from a large pool of those elected to positions of responsibility in the party by the full state meeting.
Most complaints in any walk of life are determined by a small group of adjudicators and in cases of breaches of the law for example, by a single or several judges. It is an absurd idea that all the membership or a large group of members would be in a position to deal with the material in a complaint properly, and determine the matter.
His statement that ‘The NSW Greens shouldn’t let the manipulation of our processes undermine grassroots democracy.’ is fine as a general concept, but in relation to this complaint and process, it is not justified. There has been no manipulation of the process by the complainants.
It is true we believe that mediation will not work and would be a waste of time.
The matter is not resolved. The eight complainants intend to have the complaint process resumed after legal advice is obtained by the party and the suspension of process ends. Of course, Jeremy should have appropriate opportunity to respond to the complaint. The matter should be determined on the merits of evidence, and not by threat of legal action, and a campaign to undermine the complaints process.
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