Labor airs shock claims of Liberal staffer sex harassment

Shocking claims about sleazy behaviour by a Liberal MP’s employee have been aired in parliament - but the alleged victim has hit out at Labor.

Allegations of “alarming and disturbing” behaviour within a Liberal MP’s office have been aired in state parliament, including claims a male staffer would send photographs of his penis to a female staffer and grab her on the bottom.

Labor MLC Russell Wortley outlined the shocking allegations on Thursday, while accusing Premier Steven Marshall, Treasurer Rob Lucas and Newland MP Richard Harvey of failing to act and protect female staff members.

Mr Lucas has strenuously denied taking no action, saying an independent investigator was appointed to inquire into the allegations and the alleged perpetrator’s employment contract was not renewed.

Mr Wortley described the behaviour of a male staffer at Mr Harvey’s office as “alarming and disturbing”.

SA Labor MP Russell Wortley. Picture: Roy Vandervegt

“The male staffer would say things (to a female colleague) like ‘that perfume smells good, it’s given me a perfume stiffy,’ and ‘that outfit looks really good, it’s given me a stiffy’ and ‘that makes me cream’,” he said in parliament.

Mr Wortley said the male staffer would frequently smack and grab the female staffer on the bottom.

“I understand that the male offender then used Google Translate to write a message on a whiteboard in a foreign language along the lines of ‘victim’s name sucks donkey d***’,” he said.

Allegations relating to inappropriate Snapchats were also aired.

“It was of him sitting at his desk and he had taken a photo of his erection and then sent it to the victim with the parliamentary carpet in view,” Mr Wortley said.

Mr Lucas confirmed a formal complaint was lodged in September last year by a female staffer in Mr Harvey’s office against another male staff member.

He said an independent investigator was appointed, with his support, to inquire into the allegations.

“That was with the full knowledge of the Member for Newland, as he was obviously concerned at the issues that have been raised by the female staff member about the behaviour of the male staff member in the office,” Mr Lucas said.

He said the male staff member’s employment contract was to end soon after the complaint was made and it was subsequently not renewed. In the last two weeks of the male staffer’s employment, the male and female colleagues were separated, with one based in the electorate office and the other in Mr Harvey’s parliament house office, Mr Lucas said.

Treasurer Rob Lucas. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Newland MP Richard Harvey.

Mr Harvey said: “A complaint relating to a dispute between two staffers was raised and appropriately acted upon”.

The alleged victim issued a statement on the matter, saying their feelings “have been sacrificed and discarded by those in the Labor party who just want to further their own political ambitions”.

“I am distraught this confidential matter was leaked and used by the Labor Party in a sick and twisted attempt to capitalise on a dark and traumatic period in my life,” she said.

“The airing of my complaint about the conduct of another staffer by the Labor Party in public has robbed me of my power as a victim.”

She said she was grateful to Mr Harvey and many others in the Liberal Party who have supported her through the ordeal.

In March last year, an inquiry by the Equal Opportunity Commissioner found harassment was rife within state parliament. The inquiry uncovered shocking allegations of indecent exposure, assault and sexual suggestions by MPs and their staff.