Gabrielle Williams: ‘I agree wholeheartedly with the Premier’s comments about there not being a place for Will Fowles in our team’

Axed Labor MP Will Fowles has returned to parliament after being cleared by police of sexual assault allegations — but Jacinta Allan has ruled out welcoming him back to the parliamentary party.

Will Fowles has returned to parliament as an independent MP. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Dumped Labor MP Will Fowles has made his return to parliament six months after he was forced to resign from the party.

Mr Fowles was last week cleared by a police investigation into sexual assault allegations.

Premier Jacinta Allan ruled out welcoming him back to the parliamentary Labor Party.

On Tuesday, the now-independent MP said: “It’s absolutely terrific to be back at parliament continuing to work for my constituents in Ringwood”.

“I look forward to a busy day and a productive week.”

Mr Fowles refused to answer questions about whether parliament is a safe place for women.

Premier Jacinta Allan on Tuesday was pressed on whether it was fair to have dropped Mr Fowles from the parliamentary party since Victoria Police had not laid any charges.

“I really will not be drawn further on this matter, other than to say every person, especially every woman deserves the right to a safe and secure workplace,” she said.

She also refused to reveal whether further information about Mr Fowles conduct — that had not been made public — had influenced her decision.

“The complainant deserves respect,” she said.

“Everyone deserves the right to a safe and secure work. In my view that is not negotiable. And for those reasons, reasons I won’t be further drawn on, the member for Ringwood will not be rejoining the Victorian parliamentary Labor party.”

Gabrielle Williams backed the Premier’s decision. Picture: Valeriu Campan

It comes after an Allan government minister threw “wholehearted” support behind the Premier’s decision to boot Mr Fowles from the parliamentary party, saying there “isn’t a place for Will” inside the Labor government.

As Mr Fowles returned to parliament for the first time in six months on Tuesday, it appeared many of his former Labor colleagues had turned their backs on the now-independent MP.

The Ringwood MP was forced to resign from the government last August as sexual assault allegations surfaced following an alleged incident with a ministerial staffer in Melbourne’s CBD.

Government Services Minister Gabrielle Williams on Monday said she “totally agrees” with the Premier’s decision to drop Mr Fowles from the parliamentary party.

“I agree wholeheartedly with the Premier’s comments about there not being a place for Will Fowles in our team, certainly while she’s Premier,” she said.

“I think there’s some questions around the conduct that surround that allegation that point to good reason why there isn’t a place for Will.”

Ms Williams said she had not been given any instructions about how to behave around Mr Fowles when parliament returns on Tuesday.

He will remain in the political wilderness as an independent on the crossbench.

“No there hasn’t been any instructions given to me, that’s for sure,” she said.

Ms Williams, who was also asked whether she had ever felt unsafe around Mr Fowles, said “no”.

“No, look I’m very fortunate to have always felt safe in my workplace in parliament and to have enjoyed … a workplace that is now across the parliament 50 per cent women,” she said.

“I think with that comes changing cultures.”

Several Labor MPs, speaking anonymously, said they also backed Ms Allan’s decision.

“It would be fair to say there’s a strong consensus in caucus (that it was the right decision),” one said.

Mr Fowles broke his silence over the sexual assault allegations last week, insisting they were false and criticising both former Premier Daniel Andrews’ and Ms Allan’s handling of the issue.

Police have now closed an official investigation, with no charges laid.

Mr Fowles is now pushing for an overhaul of the parliament’s process for dealing with misconduct allegations.