Luke Foley rules out legal action over ABC groping claims

Disgraced former Labor leader Luke Foley has dropped his threat to take legal action against the ABC and a journalist who says he sexually harassed her saying he “won’t put everyone through this”.

• Journalist claimed Foley groped her
• Read the full statement from Ashleigh Raper

Disgraced former Labor leader Luke Foley has dropped his threat to take legal action against the ABC and a journalist who says he sexually harassed her saying he “won’t put everyone through this”.

Mr Foley announced he would sue the media organisation after they put out a statement on behalf of their journalist Ashleigh Raper in which she alleged she was sexually harassed by the Member for Auburn at the 2016 parliament Christmas Party.

“I’ve decided not to proceed with legal action. It’s in nobody’s interests for this matter to be the subject of long running court proceedings, and I won’t put everyone through this,” Mr Foley told The Daily Telegraph today.

Mr Foley resigned as NSW Labor leader earlier in November after ABC journalist Ashleigh Raper alleged he groped her.

Luke Foley says he won’t proceed with legal action. Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts

Upon his resignation, Mr Foley threatened to sue Ms Raper and the public broadcaster for defamation but on Wednesday confirmed he no longer planned to proceed.

“It’s in nobody’s interests for this matter to be the subject of long-running court proceedings, and I won’t put everyone through this,” Mr Foley said.

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A statement issued by Ms Raper in November said Mr Foley “put his hand through a gap in the back of my dress and inside my underpants”.

“He rested his hand on my buttocks.”

Mr Foley resigned as NSW Labor Party leader — but reiterated his denials that he harassed Ms Raper and announced his planned to launch legal proceedings.

ABC journalist Ashleigh Raper claims Luke Foley inappropriately touched her at a Christmas party. Picture: ABC

“The first thing I’d like to say is that the allegations against me today, made public by the ABC, are false. I’ve retained solicitors and senior counsels to advise on the immediate commencement of defamation proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia,” Mr Foley said at the time.

Mr Foley had previously denied harassing a then unnamed ABC journalist after he was accused in parliament by Corrections Minister David Elliott of harassing the reporter after having “a little bit too much to drink at a party”.