Luke Foley dumped as White Ribbon Australia ambassador

FORMER Labor leader Luke Foley has been stripped of his status as a White Ribbon ambassador after allegations were made he inappropriately touched an ABC journalist.

• Foley quits, but denies claim
• Ashleigh Raper’s statement
• Why Journalist broke her silence

FORMER Labor leader Luke Foley has been stripped of his status as a White Ribbon ambassador after allegations were made he inappropriately touched an ABC journalist.

Luke Foley denies putting his hand down an ABC journalist’s underpants but has resigned as NSW Labor leader as a result of the scandal, saying he will fight to defend his reputation in court.

White Ribbon Australia issued a statement acknowledging Ms Raper’s “courage in making a public statement about an incident that women should never experience.”

Former Opposition Leader Luke Foley has been accused of harassment. Picture: Joel Carrett

“White Ribbon has removed Mr Foley from the White Ribbon Ambassador program, effective immediately. All White Ribbon Ambassadors must pass a rigorous training program and abide at all times to the tenets of the Ambassador program.”

“White Ribbon calls for this matter to be discussed respectfully and in a way which supports women who display courage in speaking out.”

Ms Raper wanted to “set the record straight” about the November 2016 incident in Sydney’s CBD following widespread speculation.

ABC journalist Ashleigh Raper claims Luke Foley inappropriately touched her. Picture: ABC

She said the incident involving Mr Foley happened at a bar in Martin Place following a Christmas function involving politicians, their staff and journalists at Parliament House, when he approached her and others to say goodnight.

“He stood next to me. He put his hand through a gap in the back of my dress and inside my underpants. He rested his hand on my buttocks. I completely froze,” she said.

She said the incident was witnessed by another journalist but she did not make a complaint for a number of reasons — including for fear of losing her job and the negative impact it would have on her family.

Ms Raper came forward after the matter was made public in parliament. Picture: Twitter.

But the matter resurfaced in October when Liberal minister David Elliott raised it in NSW parliament, with Mr Foley repeatedly denying any wrongdoing. Ms Raper said the opposition leader called her on Sunday to apologise, telling her: “I’m not a philanderer, I’m not a groper, I’m just a drunk idiot”. He told her he would resign as leader of the NSW Labor Party either on Monday or Wednesday.

However, she said he backtracked on Tuesday, calling her to say he won’t be resigning based on legal advice.

Ms Raper said the “time has come for my voice to be heard” and wanted the political point scoring and speculation to stop, so she could get on with her life.

Mr Foley said allegations he groped Ms Raper were false, and he would launch defamation proceedings in the Federal Court.

“I’ve retained solicitors and senior counsel to advise on the immediate commencement of defamation proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia,” he said.