Pauline Hanson and Cheryl Kernot may give the lie to the truism that turncoats rarely prosper. But Labor’s newest chum, Dorinda Cox, lacks Hanson’s outraging populism and Kernot’s high political achievements with the Australian Democrats, talents that allowed them to whitewash the stain of ratting on their political parties.

Greens-turned Labor senator Dorinda Cox and One Nation leader Pauline Hanson.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen, AAP

The Western Australian Senator has deserted the Greens for Labor, handing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese an extra vote in the Senate and a black eye to former minor party colleagues already reeling after their May 3 election rout.

But Cox’s own actions and the leaks against her since her desertion will make it hard to put her past........

© The Sydney Morning Herald