Allegations of disgraceful behaviour matter for police, says Premier, as Duluk says he’ll run as independent

Premier Steven Marshall is urging police to investigate claims of drunken sexism, racism, homophobia and disgraceful behaviour at boozy parliamentary Christmas parties.

PREMIER Steven Marshall is urging police to investigate outstanding allegations of drunken sexism, racism, homophobia and disgraceful behaviour at boozy parliamentary Christmas parties.

But Mr Marshall insisted he would not conduct a personal investigation into the “disgusting and disgraceful” allegations involving a staffer urinating and exposing himself in an MP’s office during a parliamentary Liberal Christmas party.

Responding to extraordinary allegations of scandalous behaviour at the 2019 crossbench and Liberal parties, Mr Marshall said some were examined by Equal Opportunity Commissioner and parliamentary probes.

Former Liberal MP Sam Duluk departs the Adelaide Magistrates Court after an earlier hearing. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

Greens MLC Tammy Franks. Picture: Mike Burton

He said some accusations had been examined by the court case that acquitted independent MP Sam Duluk but called for any outstanding criminal allegations to be referred to the police.

“There may be some other allegations that were made in the course of Ms (Greens MLC Tammy) Franks’ contribution in the Legislative Council yesterday, I think there are other pathways for those to be pursued,” he said.

Asked by The Advertiser what those pathways were, Mr Marshall said: “If they’re criminal, it would be for the police (to pursue).”

Contacted by The Advertiser, police said they were “not in a position to comment on whether any reports of crime have been made in relation to these specific allegations (about behaviour at the Christmas parties)”.

WATCH THE PREMIER’S PRESS CONFERENCE

Ms Franks, who on Wednesday unleashed extraordinary claims of drunken sexism, racism and homophobia involving Mr Duluk, also then aired the claims involving the staffer at the Liberal party.

On Thursday she challenged the Liberal Party to investigate and declared she had spoken under parliamentary privilege because other avenues of recourse had not resolved the matter.

Mr Duluk on Thursday morning told parliament he would stand as an independent, saying of the scandal surrounding his alleged behaviour at the 2019 Christmas parties: “I need this to stop.”

Mr Duluk was acquitted on August 24 of assaulting SA-Best MLC Connie Bonaros at the 2019 Christmas party – but Magistrate John Wells harshly criticised his drunken behaviour.

Asked in parliament by Deputy Labor Leader Susan Close whether he had taken any action to identify the Liberal staffer who urinated in an MP’s office, Mr Marshall said there had been no formal complaint.

“I have no information with regards to this matter whatsoever. Now there are courses if somebody is prepared to come forward but I am not going to be conducting a personal investigation into this matter. It would be completely and utterly inappropriate to do,” Mr Marshall said.

But Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas accused Mr Marshall of a leadership failure for refusing to accept his responsibility for the welfare of parliamentary staff.

Ms Franks said her speech had been based largely on the 29-page transcript of the interview she had early last year with a private investigator commissioned by former speaker Vincent Tarzia to look into what happened.

She said she was moved to air the allegations in the 30-minute speech to parliament after Speaker Josh Teague announced that inquiry would not continue, leaving the matter unresolved.

“I had many conversations in the 48 hours before. When (the Speaker’s inquiry) wasn’t resumed, people reached out to me and I reached back out to them – I knew some and some made contact with me,” Ms Franks said.

“I went and checked with everyone that they were happy to be portrayed and left some stuff out because I didn’t want to identify (anyone).”

In a subsequent speech to parliament on Thursday afternoon, Mr Duluk said his electors recognised the “important role an independent has” in holding the government to account.

He said his priorities would be economic management, protecting those hit by land tax measures and a evidence-based health blueprint out of the pandemic.

Acting Equal Opportunity Commissioner Colin Marsh said his office would “thoroughly and independently consider” any complaint of inappropriate behaviour”, however at the time of the parties the commissioner did not have authority to investigate complaints of sexual harassment between MPs.

SafeWork SA said it had not received complaints about the Christmas parties.