Senator David Van has quit the Liberal Party in the wake of multiple allegations of inappropriate behaviour made against him over the past week.
Key points:
- Three separate allegations against senator Van have been raised over the past week
- Liberal leader Peter Dutton barred the senator from the Liberal party room on Thursday
- Senator Van denies the allegations against him and says he has not been afforded procedural fairness
Senator Van has rejected the allegations, and in an email to Victorian party president Greg Mirabella, accused the Liberals of disregarding due process.
"I cannot remain a member of a party that tramples upon the very premise on which our justice system is predicated," Senator Van wrote.
"I am deeply distressed and hurt that I have not been afforded procedural fairness in relation to these claims … I will continue to fight for what I thought were the party's values — just not under its banner."
Three separate allegations were made against the Victorian senator over the past week.
On Wednesday, independent senator Lidia Thorpe alleged under parliamentary privilege that Senator Van had sexually harassed and assaulted her, allegations which he denied and she later withdrew.
On Thursday, former Queensland Liberal senator Amanda Stoker raised her own claims that Senator Van had inappropriately touched her at a party by squeezing her bottom twice — something she said she had dealt with internally at the time, but felt compelled to bring to Opposition Leader Peter Dutton's attention after Senator Thorpe spoke in the Senate.
Senator Van has said he cannot recall the alleged incident described by Ms Stoker.
In response, Mr Dutton told Senator Van he could no longer sit with the parliamentary Liberal Party, an action Senator Van said was unfair.
On Friday, Mr Dutton said Senator Van should quit parliament after he said a third person had come forward with further allegations against the senator.
Victorian Liberal Party officials were due to meet on Sunday night to consider Senator Van's continued membership of the party.
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2023-06-17 07:48:23Z
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