Labor MP Kaushaliya Vaghela claims she was scared of ‘spiteful’, ‘misogynist’ Dan Andrews
Labor MP Kaushaliya Vaghela says the Andrews government is victim blaming after the Premier dismissed her allegations of party bullying as “just fantasy”.
Victoria
Don't miss out on the headlines from Victoria. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Labor MP Kaushaliya Vaghela has accused the Andrews government of victim blaming after Premier Daniel Andrews dismissed her bullying accusations as “fantasy without foundation.”
Kaushaliya Vaghela revealed in the Saturday Herald Sun that she had been subjected to intimidation aimed at damaging her “mentally, physically and psychologically” after switching ALP factions, in what she says was a bid to force her out of politics.
The rebel MP has also alleged in a complaint to the Premier’s office that his allies promised taxpayer-funded grants and jobs for “favours”.
In a statement released on Sunday afternoon, the outgoing Labor MP lashed out at the government’s handling of her damning claims.
“I have been sickened by the government’s victim blaming attitude even going as far as questioning my state of mind and my motives by insinuating that I have recently made up these claims because I have not been preselected,” Ms Vaghela said.
“The Premier even said publically today that my claims were a fantasy.”
The upper house MP said she had documented her bullying claims since April 2019 and will provide them to Worksafe as part of her complaint.
Ms Vaghela said she would tell her story publically when “she is ready to do so”.
“In the meantime, the Premier and his people are taking advantage of my absence by questioning the state of my mind,” she said.
“Four years of bullying and abuse has taken its toll, so I ask the Premier and his team to stop.”
Ms Vaghela rejected the Premier’s claim the bullying complaint had been dealt with, after Mr Andrews said the person in his office had left over the matter.
Ms Vaghela also shared a text message sent to Mr Andrews’ chief of staff Lissie Ratcliff more than two years ago where she called for “immediate action” to deal with her bullying claims.
“I am sick and tired of these men trying to bully, harass and intimidate me in all the ways they can,” the message sent to Ms Ratcliff in December 2019 said.
“They are trying to defame me and malign my name.
“Before I speak to the Premier, as a last resort, I am seeking your help to look into this matter.
“Please take required action.”
But on Sunday Premier Daniel Andrews labelled the allegations of party bullying as “just fantasy” and having “no basis in fact”.
The Premier on Sunday refused to respond to claims Labor MP Kaushaliya Vaghela levelled against him personally, where she alleged her fellow colleagues were “scared of him”.
“I won’t dignify the stuff said about me. I’m just not going to,” he said.
“We are achieving great things for people right across our state. They’re the things that I’m focused on.
“I won’t dignify some of this other stuff by getting into it. I’m far too busy, far too busy for that.”
However, the Premier confirmed a government staffer left “some time ago” following a complaint made by Ms Vaghela, but did not elaborate on its nature.
“There was an issue and it was dealt with appropriately,” Mr Andrews said.
“That person no longer works in my office.”
Senior Andrews government Minister Jacinta Allan backed the Premier on Sunday, disputing claims he was a “misogynist”.
“It’s important to clarify that these are statements that (Ms Vaghela) has made,” Ms Allan said.
“No evidence has been provided to support those statements that have been made.
“When it comes to driving an equality agenda making sure women, whether you’re a woman from regional Victoria, an Indigenous woman, a woman experiencing homelessness as a consequence of family violence, the Premier has spent everyday determined to improve the quality of life for women in our state.”
On Saturday, Treasurer Tim Pallas responded to Ms Vaghela’s bombshell, saying: “It is worrying for me that she said that, and it goes to her state of mind. I hope and I can assure her should she need assistance from the government in any way to help with her state of mind we will support her”.
On Saturday night, one female Labor MP said the Treasurer’s comments were extraordinary as they made it sound like the government was “blaming the victim”.
On Sunday, shadow Minister for Women Emma Kealy called on Mr Pallas to apologise for “abhorrently” questioning Ms Vaghela’s state of mind, claiming victim blaming within the Labor party was not only accepted “but encouraged”.
“That a senior government minister would question the validity of such serious accusations points to the very core of the culture within the state Labor government led by Daniel Andrews,” Ms Kealy said in a statement.
“Daniel Andrews has created an environment within his caucus where blaming of the victim is not only accepted, but encouraged.
“Kaushalyia (sic) Vaghela is a victim of an arrogant Labor government concerned only with spin and control, and led by a Premier described as misogynistic and spiteful.”
Ms Vaghela’s first name, Kaushaliya, was however twice misspelt in Ms Kealy’s statement.
In her letter to the Premier’s office outlining her poor treatment, Ms Vaghela alleged multicultural grants and board positions were effectively offered as political currency.
Her letter raises concerns about how positions at the Victorian Multicultural Commission were awarded, and that people from the Premier’s Socialist Left faction enticed allies by claiming influence over publicly funded roles.
“The gang says if people do what they say, then in return the gang will advise the Premier or the relevant minister in deciding who should get such roles, in returning favours,” she wrote in the May letter.
Ms Vaghela said she felt free to speak out since crossing the floor in parliament to back a motion calling for a reinvestigation of the “red shirts” rort – an action likely to lead to her expulsion from the Labor Party.
In a statement on Saturday, she said she felt “empowered and gratified that I have been able to tell my story publicly without the need to care about retribution”.
Claims that grants were part of political deals could attract the attention of the anti-corruption commission, which is exploring allegations that allies of former minister Adem Somyurek misused taxpayer funds for factional purposes. Ms Vaghela is an ally of Mr Somyurek.
Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said: “If financial rewards or inducements are being offered or given for support for the Labor government, then this matter should also be referred to the corruption commission”.
Ms Vaghela said in the Saturday Herald Sun that Labor politicians felt intimidated into silence, as they were “scared of the Premier because they know he is so spiteful”.
“That’s why nobody says anything against him. And anyone, any woman that does, they disappear (from prominence), like Jenny Mikakos,” she said.
Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes rejected Ms Vaghela’s depiction of the Premier, saying she had never seen him intimidate other MPs.
“I believe that I have been supported extremely well by the Premier and any suggestion that is made that he is in any way a misogynist, this I cannot say more strongly is untrue,” she said.
Originally published as Labor MP Kaushaliya Vaghela claims she was scared of ‘spiteful’, ‘misogynist’ Dan Andrews
Jesse Martin linked to medieval Versace Castle
A medieval-like Versace Castle in Victoria has been revealed to have a wild connection to one of Australia’s most-recognisable sailors, which features an armoury and decorative weapons.
‘Don’t know what that was about’: Pesutto shrugs off spill rumblings
Opposition Leader John Pesutto says he’s focused on Victoria’s crumbling roads and healthcare system after winning unanimous backing from his partyroom.