Chris Minns under pressure to investigate Walt Secord bully claims

Labor leader Chris Minns is facing pressure from government MPs and his own party to investigate bullying claims against police spokesman Walt Secord.

Pressure is mounting on Labor leader Chris Minns to take action against Walt Secord after allegations of bullying and intimidating behaviour were made against the Upper House politician by multiple female colleagues.

Despite claims Mr Secord bullied members of his own party and staff of other MPs, mentioned in Elizabeth Broderick’s report into bullying and sexual harassment in parliament, Mr Minns has resisted calls to investigate his senior colleague.

“Formal complaints will be handled with priority and seriousness, in accordance with Labor’s independent complaints handling process, established last year following a review conducted by the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party,” he said.

“I will be writing to all staff and Members of the Parliamentary Labor Party to ensure that they are aware that there is an independent complaint process; that any complaints will be handled with seriousness and care; and we will support any complainant through the process.”

The report found widespread bullying, sexual harassment and even five rapes or attempted rapes, painting a picture of a toxic boys club in NSW parliament. It is not suggested Mr Secord was involved in any sexual misconduct.

Labor leader Chris Minns. Picture: AAP

Mr Minns said he encouraged anyone who experienced bullying in parliament to make a complaint, but NSW Labor was yet to receive an official complaint against Mr Secord.

“Walt Secord has issued an apology and sought assistance on his personal development and growth,” Mr Minns said.

Walt Secord is opposition police spokesman. Picture: Dylan Coker

“Labor recognises the enormity of the challenges in our parliamentary workplaces. The introduction of Labor’s independent complaints process is an important first step.

“And Labor will seek to fully realise the recommendations of the Broderick report as a political party, in the parliament, and in government.

A senior Labor source told The Sunday Telegraph Mr Secord’s bullying behaviour was an open secret in parliament.

“You’d have to be under a rock to not know what Walt was doing,” the Labor source said. “If you would stand up to him the next day he would leak a story to the press about you.”

Mental Health Minister Bronnie Taylor called on perpetrators of harassment to leave the parliament. Picture: Monique Harmer

When asked recently if he would sack any of his members found to be bullies, Mr Minns said he was not aware of any bad behaviour in parliament.

The Sunday Telegraph understands a delegation of women in the Labor Party will bring their concerns about Mr Secord to Mr Minns this week.

“I stand by my public and unequivocal apology issued yesterday,” Mr Secord said on Saturday.

On Friday he promised to participate in “any and all education measures or proposals put forward by the review or that the Labor Party thinks is required”.

The allegations against Mr Secord come after Liberal minister for fair trading Eleni Petinos was sacked by Dominic Perrottet after complaints from staff members.

“Our leader has come out very strongly on this issue and Labor must be decisive as well,” Mental Health Minister Bronnie Taylor said.

“This is a matter for the Labor Party and I strongly suggest they follow Dominic Perrottet’s lead.”

Liberal MP Tanya Davies called on Mr Secord to immediately step aside and for a full investigation.

“I find the circumstances totally untenable with his current position and by apologising he has acknowledged his actions and therefore there should be a full independent investigation and he should step down while these matters are investigated,” she said.

“As a shadow minister he wants to be minister of a Labor government and if he has any character and integrity remaining he should step down and allow a full and independent investigation into what has happened.”

“CULTURE OF FEAR”: SECORD BULLYING CLAIMS

Multiple claims of rape or attempted rape are among the explosive findings of a damning review into NSW parliamentary workplaces which found that bullying is a “significant issue” and described certain offices as “well-known hot spots” for bad behaviour.

It can also be revealed that complaints about a Labor frontbencher being a “bully” were made in confidential submissions to the review, conducted by former sex discrimination commissioner Elizabeth Broderick.

Labor Leader Chris Minns is now facing pressure from his own side to respond to allegations that his Police spokesman Walt Secord has bullied colleagues and staff through a culture of “fear”.

One Labor source who engaged with the Broderick review claimed Mr Secord was “a terribly disrespectful bully”.

“What he does would never ever be allowed in another workplace,” the source told The Daily Telegraph.

NSW Labor police spokesman Walt Secord. Picture: Dylan Coker

“No-one is brave enough to take him on.”

While he is accused of bullying staff and colleagues, Mr Secord has not been accused of any sexual misconduct revealed in the Broderick review’s findings.

In a statement on Friday, Mr Secord said that he is “aware” of his “shortcomings” and acknowledged he “can be too blunt and too direct in a fast-paced workplace”.

“If any parliamentary staff members feel that my conduct in the workplace was unprofessional and caused offence or distress and was unacceptable, I unreservedly apologise,” he said.

SHOCKWAVES: FIVE ALLEGED RAPES, ATTEMPTED RAPES

The Broderick review sent shockwaves through Macquarie Street on Friday, with Premier Dominic Perrottet condemning the “toxic” culture pervading parliament.

Five people the Broderick review that they were victims of rape or attempted rape in a NSW parliamentary workplace in the past five years, while 20 per cent of workers said they experienced sexual harassment in that time frame.

The anonymous survey, which almost 500 people completed, heard from three men and two women who said they were the victim of attempted or actual sexual assault.

Nine per cent of respondents said they had “heard about or witnessed sexual assault”.

“Clearly, we have a culture in the NSW parliament that over time has become, in many instances, toxic and is wrong,” Premier Dominic Perrottet said.

“This must end, it ends today,” Mr Perrottet said.

One in five workers said they had experienced sexual harassment, which most commonly occurred at Parliament House itself.

‘I’M AWARE OF MY SHORTCOMINGS’

Certain offices were identified by the review as “well-known” for bullying and harassment “hot spots,” with people identifying specific MPs who reduce people to “tears”.

The report made a number of recommendations, including strengthening codes of conduct and improving working hours and conditions for politicians’ staffers.

Mr Secord said he has “already been undertaking counselling due to the experiences and trauma” he experienced as a child, which he said “made me a forthright person”.

“I am aware of my shortcomings and I will continue to receive assistance,” he said.

“I want to be part of repairing the culture in state parliament, and addressing my behaviour as part of that,” he said.