Embattled NSW Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham has demanded the party's federal leader back down on calls for him to resign amid "sexual violence" allegations.
Mr Buckingham on Thursday wrote to Richard Di Natale, three days after the Greens leader called for him to stand aside as an upper house candidate at the March state election.
He requested Mr Di Natale make a public statement re-affirming his support for procedural fairness within the party, and the presumption of innocence, after fellow NSW Greens MP Jenny Leong used parliamentary privilege to re-air allegations of sexual harassment against Mr Buckingham.
Ms Leong on Tuesday called for her factional opponent to resign over the alleged incident and accused him of intimidating her on two occasions this year.
The scandal has again exposed the deep divisions within the party, with a handful of MPs on either side of the organisation backing their factional kin.
Mr Buckingham denies the alleged 2011 incident involving a party staffer and has pointed to an independent investigation that recommended no adverse findings against him.
"If we abandon the vitally important principles of a presumption of innocence and procedural fairness in an attempt to placate the Left Renewal faction that has infiltrated our party, then what kind of party is the Australian Greens?" Mr Buckingham wrote in the letter, seen by AAP, to Mr Di Natale.
"I request that you make a public statement re-affirming your support for the principles of the presumption of innocence and procedural fairness."
Supporters of Mr Buckingham have accused Ms Leong of using the alleged 2011 sexual harassment as a political weapon.
Australian Associated Press
