Luke Foley resigns as NSW Opposition leader after journalist’s groping claims

LUKE Foley has resigned as NSW Labor Party leader — but has reiterated his denials that he harassed an ABC journalist and will launch legal proceedings.

• Foley put hand in my underpants: Journalist
• Watch Foley’s original denial
• Read journalist’s full statement

LUKE Foley has resigned as NSW Labor Party leader — but has reiterated his denials that he harassed an ABC journalist and will launch legal proceedings.

“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.

“However I can’t fight to clear my name and fight an election at the same time. It’s just not possible to do both. Therefore I am resigning the leadership of the Labor Party effective today. This will enable a new leader to give his or her attention to the task of defeating the Liberal National government.

I will be remaining the member for Auburn and returning to the backbench.”

NSW Opposition leader Luke Foley announces his resignation. Picture: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

Michael Daley is expected to take over from Luke Foley. picture: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

Mr Foley refused to answer questions at the press conference and left the room after making the brief statement.

A police spokeswoman this afternoon said ABC reporter Ashleigh Raper had no made a complaint or provided a station to NSW Police at this stage.

NSW Police have however spoken to senior management at the ABC.

The police spokesman said that if a complaint was received the matter would be taken seriously and investigated by detectives — as would any allegation of this nature.

ABC journalist Ashleigh Raper claims Luke Foley inappropriately touched her at a Christmas party in November 2016. Picture: ABC

Earlier this afternoon senior Labor figures encouraged Mr Foley to resign and had been drafting statements to assist him.

A statement issued by Ms Raper 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.”

Ms Raper also claims she had two recent phone conversations with Mr Foley.

The first was on Sunday when Mr Foley apologised and indicated he would resign on Monday or Wednesday.

On Tuesday, he allegedly called again saying he received legal advice against resigning.

Senior right figures expect Michael Daley to be installed as leader as soon as tomorrow, possibly in an emergency caucus meeting.

Key right MPs within Labor have moved their support behind him.

Labor MP Trish Doyle earlier said she would call a leadership spill if Mr Foley didn’t resign.

In a statement, Ms Doyle said politics is “lagging far behind the rest of society in its handling of workplace sexual harassment and bullying.”

Luke Foley arrives at Parliament House. Picture: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

Senior Labor figures are encouraging NSW Opposition leader Luke Foley to resign. Picture: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

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”.

Earlier, federal Labor leader Bill Shorten described it as a “serious matter” but declined to comment further.

“I will go away and get acquainted on the facts,” he told reporters in Perth.