Premier Steven Marshall told of claims about Sam Duluk’s alleged harassment ‘when it occurred’ late last year
The Premier was told about Liberal MP Sam Duluk’s alleged misconduct “when it occurred” – as Labor demands an independent inquiry.
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Premier Steven Marshall became aware of claims that one of his MPs acted inappropriately to several women at a Parliament House Christmas party “when it occurred” late last year, as the Opposition demands a full and independent inquiry into the conduct.
The Advertiser has revealed claims that conservative Liberal MP Sam Duluk slapped SA Best politician Connie Bonaros on the backside and sent unwanted texts, and that preliminary inquiries have been launched into two reports of inappropriate comments to female Parliament House staff.
On Saturday, when only Ms Bonaros’ concerns were publicly known, Mr Duluk tweeted: “I wish to publicly apologise to Ms Bonaros and anyone else who was offended by my actions at a Parliament House Christmas Party”.
Under questioning on Monday after the other two cases emerged, Mr Marshall said he’d been aware of concerns since the party in question.
“I was made aware of this issue which occurred at Parliament House late last year, when it occurred,” he said.
“My understanding from day one was that there were various people who might have taken offence. That’s why I said ‘you’ve got to issue an apology’. I directed Sam Duluk to do that, and that’s what happened. I think that he genuinely regrets his actions.”
Mr Marshall said Mr Duluk’s public apology was “to anybody that was affected”, including “a large number of people who were there at the time” of the Christmas party.
Mr Marshall left open the option of further punishment, in addition to Mr Duluk having quit a paid committee chair position, once investigations into the behaviour concluded.
“There is a process which is in place, the Parliament has got its investigations, so we will wait to see what has happened,” Mr Marshall said. “This behaviour is completely unacceptable. It cannot be tolerated in the SA Parliament.”
Speaker Vincent Tarzia, a Liberal colleague of Mr Duluk and Mr Marshall, is overseeing the investigations.
His office was on Monday in talks with the Equal Opportunity Commission. It is unclear when the investigations will be resolved and how they will progress.
Ms Bonaros is considering her legal options. It is understood no formal complaints have been lodged over Mr Duluk’s behaviour at the party.
Opposition government accountability spokesman Tom Koutsantonis said it was untenable for a Liberal speaker to be investigating a colleague, and Mr Duluk should be barred from Parliament until the matters were resolved.
“Mr Duluk should not attend this building,” he said.
“Those three women work here. Those three women come here for their livelihoods.
“The idea that Mr Duluk can be here while this inquiry is unsettled is offensive to them, and everything that I think most South Australians would expect to be the norm.”
Parliament has limited powers of sanction, as an MP is effectively employed by the voters at each election.
However, Mr Duluk is strongly expected to face restrictions on his access to Parliament House and catering facilities when sitting resumes next month.
Social media users on Monday continued to call for his resignation from Parliament, which would trigger a by-election in the safe Liberal seat of Waite.
Almost two thirds of respondents to an Advertiser online poll said Mr Duluk should be stood aside from his duties as an MP while investigations were ongoing.