Coalition staffer accused of performing lewd sex act in female MP's office sacked - ABC News

A Coalition staffer alleged to have performed a lewd sex act in a female Liberal MP's office has been sacked.

Key points:

• Simon Birmingham says he is "disgusted and appalled" by the reports
• Channel Ten and The Australian have aired claims Coalition staffers recorded themselves performing sex acts
• Senator Birmingham has warned those involved they should prepare to be sacked

The move came after Channel Ten and The Australian newspaper said they had obtained videos and images filmed inside Parliament House, involving four Coalition staff members.

A government source confirmed to the ABC that one of the staffers had been sacked over the reports.

Finance Minister Simon Birmingham condemned the behaviour shortly after the story aired, saying those involved should prepare to be fired.

"I am disgusted and appalled," he said.

"It shows a complete disregard for all that our parliamentary democracy stands for.

"It also demonstrates an enormous disrespect for the employing member or senator in relation to those staff and those offices.

"It equally shows a complete contempt, frankly, for Australian taxpayers who pay the wages of such staff. In my opinion any individuals who engaged in such activity ought to prepare to pack their bags and leave the building for good."

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tony Smith, and President of the Senate, Scott Ryan, said the Presiding Officers "were not aware of the incidents or allegations until they aired on Channel Ten".

"MPs and Senators employ their own staff," they said.

"If the Presiding Officers are informed of the identities of the staff members, they are of course prepared to take action within the context of their responsibilities."

The man's sacking comes at a time when the workplace culture, particularly for women, within Parliament House is being intensely scrutinised.

Brittany Higgins's allegations have sparked a national conversatio about the treatment of women in Parliament and society more broadly.(

ABC News: Luke Stephenson

)

Former staffer Brittany Higgins's allegation she was raped by a colleague in March 2019 resulted in Prime Minister Scott Morrison announcing a series of inquiries into the adequacy of support measures for women in the building, as well as the broader culture and how to improve it.

Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins has been appointed to head up the independent, cross-party review into the culture.

Ms Higgins's allegations and the treatment of women Australia more broadly, sparked marches and protests across the country.

Last week a federal government staff member resigned shortly after being accused in Tasmanian Parliament of calling a senior female politician a "meth-head c***" during his time working for then-premier Will Hodgman.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiZ2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIxLTAzLTIyL2NvYWxpdGlvbi1zdGFmZmVyLWxld2Qtc2V4LWFjdC1wYXJsaWFtZW50LWhvdXNlLXNhY2tlZC8xMDAwMjIwMzLSAShodHRwczovL2FtcC5hYmMubmV0LmF1L2FydGljbGUvMTAwMDIyMDMy?oc=5

2021-03-22 07:48:28Z
52781452681997

Bagikan Berita Ini