'Gaza has radicalised me': Greens councillor announces resignation from party

Dr Rhonda Garad says she needs the "freedom to say and do what feels urgent and important".

Greater Dandenong councillor Dr Rhonda Garad has announced her resignation from the Greens.

In a statement posted to social media this morning, Garad said: "I will always be grateful for the experience of being part of the Greens, a party I hold in high esteem, and I will always have tremendous respect for the members who work so hard to create positive change".

"But we are unequivocally living through the worst of times. There's no doubt that Gaza has radicalised me. I am forever changed by our new reality — a world in which no amount of irrefutable evidence of the Palestinian holocaust will compel our leaders to act."

Garad added that she "cannot continue with business as usual, knowing that the coalition of powers enabling this genocide are merely the vanguard of a global system of suppression and control".

"There is simply no part of me that has not been transformed over the past 22 months. Every part of me is now galvanised to fight for a future for my children and grandchildren. That is why I have made the decision to leave — so I have the freedom to say and do what feels urgent and important."

"I haven't made this decision lightly, and it is with profound sadness that I leave behind the camaraderie of so many incredibly dedicated and wonderful people I’ve had the good fortune to know and work alongside."

Garad was re-elected to Greater Dandenong City Council in last year's local-elections, defeating long-serving councillor and former mayor Angela Long, a member of the Labor Party who was not running as an endorsed candidate, in Cleeland Ward.

She had previously held Keysborough South Ward, which was retained for the Greens by Isabella Do with a significant positive swing.

Following Garad's resignation, the makeup of Greater Dandenong City Council is seven Independent Labor councillors, three independent councillors, and one Greens councillor.

The announcement comes just days after Banyule councillor Alida McKern, who represents Chelsworth Ward, quit the Greens as well.

In a statement, McKern said "during my 6 years of membership with the Greens, I believe there has been significant shift in Party values and priorities."

"A shift that no longer aligns with the priorities I committed to campaign for and represent when I ran for Council."

There is no suggestion that McKern and Garad resigned for the same reasons.

The Greens won 28 seats statewide last year. Following the two defections, they will have 27 after picking up an extra seat in January via a countback to Golden Plains Shire Council, when Greens member Gavin Gamble replaced independent Lachlan Glen.