Labor MPs blame Chris Minns for ’aggressive’ caucus culture

A band of Labor MPs are furious with leader Chris Minns as official complaints are lodged against former frontbencher Walt Secord.

Labor MPs are privately seething at their leader Chris Minns for being “wilfully ignorant” to alleged intimidation and bullying by his under-fire member Walt Secord.

After a bombshell review into Macquarie Street dropped last week — cracks have begun to show in the opposition as members said Mr Secord had behaved badly in caucus where Mr Minns was present.

Multiple allegations were made about Mr Secord and the former frontbencher acknowledged his “shortcomings” and accepted he can be “too blunt” before committing to address the behaviour.

The Daily Telegraph spoke to several MPs who said Mr Secord’s alleged behaviour – which has now become the subject of formal complaints – extended to how he acted in caucus but Mr Minns did not intervene.

Walt Secord. Picture: Dylan Coker

“They say this is the nature of it (caucus), but it doesn’t mean it has to be,” another MP said.

One source said on one occasion, it was alleged that Mr Secord made comments “designed to humiliate and embarrass” another Labor member in a conversation that turned “quite ugly”.

“There is always ways of speaking frankly instead of speaking aggressively and you can pick it,” one said.

On a separate occasion, during a party meeting where a motion related to the BDS movement was discussed, Mr Secord allegedly “leapt” from his chair and “barged” to the front of the meeting “to create an intimidating atmosphere” during a debate in a party meeting.

Mr Minns was not at this meeting but Labor MPs said the behaviour was in line with his actions in other caucus meetings.

Mr Secord said his alleged actions during the BDS matter were not in caucus: “This is an absolute lie. I did not even speak in that caucus debate.”

Labor MPs have expressed frustration with Mr Minns over the allegations. Picture Supplied.

A fourth Labor source also corroborated the allegations around Mr Secord’s behaviour in caucus but defended Mr Minns adding that everybody in the party had turned a blind eye to the intimidation and the responsibility needs to be shared.

“This lies at all our feet. It took a lot to push parliament to bring this report on, and my great hope is it won’t sit on bookshelves collecting dust,” they said.

Mr Minns has said he first heard of complaints about Mr Secord via the media on Friday, prompting him to speak to staff and colleagues over the weekend – leading to Mr Secord standing aside.

He said no one had ever raised concerns with him about Mr Secord’s behaviour before the weekend.

Labor MPs are also concerned a new complaints handling process will not make a different. Picture: AAP

Labor MPs also raised concerns that not many people will register former complaints ahead of a preselection.

“How do you get preselected if you’re down there making complaints at head space,” one said.

Blacktown MP Stephen Bali said he didn’t want to discredit people’s claims but that he had a positive experience with Mr Secord.

“Walt played the game hard, but I found he was fair and forthright and he assisted me in doing things. I’m not downplaying what anyone else may have experienced but fortunately, I didn’t experience that,” he said.