Labor frontbenchers confused after Anthony Albanese claims bonk ban always existed
Labor frontbenchers are confused and frustrated after Anthony Albanese claimed bonk ban always existed under his leadership.
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Anthony Albanese’s claim that relationships between Labor shadow ministers and staff were always banned under his leadership has sparked confusion and frustration in the party.
On Wednesday night, the Opposition Leader said the “same standard applies” in Labor as the government’s rules introduced by Malcolm Turnbull after Barnaby Joyce’s affair with a staffer.
Mr Albanese had previously refused to answer questions about his position on the issue, prompting Labor MPs to call for a tougher approach in the wake of a sex scandal involving two Liberal ministers.
But his office claimed Mr Albanese’s statement was not a new rule, and had been his position throughout his leadership.
The Herald Sun spoke to a series of Labor MPs and staffers who had no idea that was the case, given the rule had not been written down or conveyed to them.
The confusion forced Mr Albanese to hold talks with shadow ministers to explain himself on Thursday, and he later released a statement which said: “To make things abundantly clear relationships between members, senators and their own staff are not appropriate.”
“There is a cultural problem with sexual harassment and bullying in the workplace that is Parliament House,” he said.
“We need to listen to the women who work here. We need to hear and act on their concerns and what they want done to ensure this is a safe and respectful workplace.”
Labor sources said the issue had been handled poorly by Mr Albanese, and questioned why it took him three days to issue that statement in the wake of the exposé aired by the ABC.
It came as the Greens agreed to ban relationships between MPs and staff working in any Greens offices.
MPs who breach those rules could lose leadership roles, portfolio responsibilities or parliamentary committee spots.
“We need to lift standards across the board so that everyone working in parliament feels safe,” Greens leader Adam Bandt said.
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