Labor MP Emma Husar speaks: The dog, the smears and the ‘pile-on’
BESIEGED Labor MP Emma Husar has spoken out about what she has described as a “pile-on” as fresh allegations emerge of when Labor leader Bill Shorten found out about issues in her office.
NSW
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BESIEGED Labor MP Emma Husar has apologised for bringing her dog to work, but insists she is the victim of an unfair “pile-on” of workplace behaviour allegations.
Meanwhile, her former aggrieved staff allege Labor leader Bill Shorten was warned about the scandal enveloping Ms Husar last year, although he claims to have known nothing.
Ms Husar, who is on personal leave pending an investigation into alleged misuse of employees, said she began bringing her son’s female Labrador, named “Thomas the Tank Engine”, to work to keep it safe.
Former staff have alleged the MP required employees to walk the dog and a staffer was this week photographed picking up the dog’s excrement.
It can also be revealed at least one former staff member attempted to initiate an unfair dismissal case in the Fair Work Commission via the United Services Union, but the matter failed to qualify because Ms Husar sacked him one day before he had served a six-month minimum term.
Ms Husar described many of the claims as “lies”.
“I’m deeply concerned that the pile-on we’ve seen over the last week will scare off some young women from political careers,” she said.
“I sincerely hope it doesn’t. We need more women in our parliament.
“There have been a great deal of stories, lies and smear in the past week about me and matters relating to my office.
“There’s an important independent process under way that I respect, so I’m not going to respond to each and every one of them, but I want the people of Lindsay to know I will never stop fighting for them.’
Ms Husar said the dog was bought for her son, Mitch, who is on the autism spectrum, and named after his favourite character.
“Thomas is highly oriented to human interaction, well trained and socialises well,” she said. “Thomas sometimes comes to the office as there have been instances of baiting in our neighbourhood and the gate at home being opened.
“My staff work incredibly hard to support me in helping our community. They’re conscientious people and occasionally, if I’m at an event or tied up in a meeting, they have in the past, taken Thomas outside for her toilet break,” Ms Husar said.
“I understand that people are upset by having the dog in the office, I’m incredibly sorry about that, and I want the people of Lindsay to know that it won’t happen again.”
One former senior staffer who had raised his grievances with NSW ALP general secretary Kaila Murnain told The Sunday Telegraph that she informed him in October that she had “raised it with Bill”.
“The issue was raised with the State ALP and assurance was given by the general secretary that staff concerns over Emma Husar’s performance and management were raised with Bill Shorten,” the former staffer said.
A NSW Labor spokesman denied the claim, saying Mr Shorten was first briefed on the matter on July 18 after a Buzzfeed query.
Ms Husar is unlikely to survive politically, with a senior Right source saying: “I think she is done. I don’t think we can win Lindsay (with her)”.
One Labor frontbencher said Ms Husar was unlikely to survive: “She is in diabolic trouble.” As for Mr Shorten: “There is no way Bill didn’t know about this last year,” the frontbencher said.
Ms Husar indicated she would dig in.
“The past week has been difficult for my family,” she said.
“My community and the people I represent have been incredibly supportive and I’m looking forward to getting on with the job and continuing to work hard for our community to get the fair go it deserves.”