Allegations staffer urinated in corner of parliament office during boozy parliament house Christmas party to be investigated

An investigation has been launched into allegations an MP’s staffer urinated in the corner of an office at parliament house during a boozy Christmas party.

Shocking allegations that a political staffer urinated in the corner of a parliament house office during a booze-fuelled Christmas party before exposing his penis and calling out “touch it” are under investigation.

It is understood the alleged culprit works for an MP.

It comes as an MLC this week plans to introduce proposed penalties into a new MPs’ code of conduct, which aims to stamp out harassment.

Treasurer Rob Lucas has confirmed his department has launched an inquiry into the purported urination incident at parliament house in December 2019.

“The Department has a zero tolerance approach to conduct of the type alleged and has, as a result, commenced an investigation into the allegations which have been raised,” he said.

Mr Lucas said because the matter was under investigation, it was not appropriate for him to comment further.

It was this same Christmas party almost two years ago that led to then-Liberal MP Sam Duluk being charged with basic assault.

He was found not guilty in the Adelaide Magistrates Court in August this year.

Mr Duluk, now an independent MP, was accused of slapping the bottom of SA Best MLC Connie Bonaros.

The allegations surrounding the staffer were aired in parliament by Greens MLC Tammy Franks in September.

She claimed a staffer, who was with Mr Duluk, urinated in the corner of an MP’s office before turning around with his penis still exposed and calling out “touch it, touch it”.

It is understood the staffer did not work within Mr Duluk’s office.

Meanwhile, Greens MLC Robert Simms on Wednesday plans to introduce amendments to a code of conduct for MPs.

The code, which covers standards of behaviour, conflicts of interest, gifts, public resources and confidentiality, was tabled in parliament last month.

However, it did not include sanctions.

Instead, potential breaches could be referred to the Office of Public Integrity which determines if it warrants referral to the State Ombudsman, who would then make a finding.

Parliament and individual parties could then impose sanctions if they wished.

Mr Simms said the code itself needed to include penalties, likely fines and mandated apologies and training, to hold MPs to account.

“It’s important we also make it clear that there are consequences for politicians doing the wrong thing,” he said.

Treasurer Rob Lucas said the issue of penalties in the code had already been considered and dismissed by Liberal, Labor, SA Best and independent MPs.

A Labor spokesman said the party would consider the amendments once they had been introduced.

A code of conduct for MPs was created following a damning report by the Equal Opportunity Commissioner that found sexual harassment was rife within parliament.