Parliamentary inquiry into claims of bullying, harassment and intimidation within SA’s Labor Party

A parliamentary inquiry will be held into claims of bullying, harassment and intimidation in SA’s Labor Party, after allegations were made by ex-Labor MP Annabel Digance.

Former Labor MP Annabel Digance. Picture: AAP

Allegations of bullying, harassment and intimidation within South Australia’s Labor Party will be the subject of a parliamentary inquiry.

Attorney-General Vickie Chapman’s put forward motion in State Parliament on Wednesday to establish a Select Committee to investigate recent allegations made by former Labor MP Annabel Digance.

The motion was successful.

It came after Ms Digance said she had many examples of misuse of power, bullying, intimidation and harassment within the Labor ranks.

Ms Digance, who represented the seat of Elder from 2014 to 2018, said she was bullied into silence over the “Can you trust Habib?” flyer scandal in the lead-up to the 2014 State Election.

The flyer was produced by the Labor Party in reference to Liberal candidate for Elder, Carolyn Habib, who has since married and changed her surname to Power.

Ms Power defeated Ms Digance at the 2018 election.

Ms Chapman said Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas could “no longer hide from these allegations”.

“The Committee will also inquire into and report on State ALP Secretary and Labor Legislative Council candidate Reggie Martin’s role in the flyer’s distribution,” she said.

Mr Malinauskas on Tuesday encouraged Ms Digance, and any members of the Labor Party, who had concerns about bullying or harassment to report them to party, which had processes in place to deal with these matters.