SA Election 2018: Advance SA candidate Jenny Low claims former partner Nick Xenophon was ‘manipulative, controlling’ in their relationship

A FORMER partner of Nick Xenophon has accused the SA Best leader of being “manipulative, controlling and inappropriate” during their seven-year relationship — claims Mr Xenophon denies.

• Nick Xenophon to quit Federal Senate to run for SA Parliament
• John Darley resigns from Nick Xenophon Team
• Upper House MP John Darley won’t rule out running again
• Nick Xenophon launching new SA party “SA Best”
• Matt Abraham: I’ve known Nick for 20 years and hardly know him at all

A FORMER partner of Nick Xenophon has accused the SA Best leader of being “manipulative, controlling and inappropriate” during their seven-year relationship — claims Mr Xenophon emphatically denies.

Jenny Low made the explosive claims during the launch of the Advance SA party on Friday, where she claimed Mr Xenophon, then 48, abused his position of power and “aggressively” pursued her romantically while she was a 23-year-old staffer.

She claims they dated “in secret” for seven years before Mr Xenophon ended the relationship.

Ms Low said she never intended to come forward with details of their relationship, but did so after inquiries by The Australian on Thursday.

In a strongly worded statement, Mr Xenophon emphatically rejected Ms Low’s claims and said he was “most distressed by any suggestion my relationship with Jenny was abusive or predatory in any way”.

“I am deeply saddened that a failed long-term relationship that I was involved in has been used by the Advance SA Party for blatant political gain.”

“The party should be renamed Gutter SA.”

Jenny Low was a staff member of Nick Xenophon's party. Picture: Kelly Barnes/The Australian

She claimed Mr Xenophon was inappropriate in his pursuit of a relationship and was “manipulative and controlling” during the course of their seven-year romance.

“I was very young when the relationship began.”

“It is not normal to be in a seven year relationship with somebody and for his family not to know. It is not normal to have your existence denied to everyone you meet except a handful of trusted people.”

Mr Xenophon rejects the claim they kept their relationship a secret.

When asked by reporters about details of the alleged emotional abuse, she said; “there are many more details I could go into but I prefer not to.”

“I don’t want to get into those elements, because it will serve no purpose other than to smear his name and I don’t want to do that.”

“This is not a personal matter.”

“I’d rather focus on what Advance SA can do for South Australia.”

RE-WATCH THE EXPLOSIVE PRESS CONFERENCE

Mr Xenophon said the couple did not begin their relationship until after Ms Low had concluded her work as one of his campaign staffers in 2007.

“During the time she worked for the campaign, my relationship with Jenny Low was a purely professional working relationship and I was grateful for her assistance during the campaign.”

“We both sought and obtained relationship counselling together in late 2013 and early 2014.”

“Sadly, that did not save our relationship.”

“I deeply regret that we couldn’t make the relationship work.”

He said former ally John Darley had never raised any concerns about the couple’s relationship and instead used it to launch the Advance SA party.

Mr Xenophon said it “smacks of the lowest form of dirty and desperate political opportunism”.

“When I entered this campaign I forecast my political opponents would throw everything at me including the proverbial kitchen sink.”

“They clearly have not hesitated to get into the gutter at the first opportunity.”

Connie Bonaros. Picture: Mike Burton

Later, Mr Xenophon said it was no wonder “so many people don’t want to pursue a political career because of this sort of muckraking”.

“It’s been a pretty ugly, awful day and I’d like to think South Australians are more interested in solving the problems of the state and less interested in my personal relationship.

“I’d just like to keep on keeping on.”

Senator Stirling Griff’s chief of staff Connie Bonaros — who worked with Mr Darley and Ms Low during the relationship — said state politics has hit an all-time low.

“At no time during Jenny’s work on the campaign did I witness any inappropriate conduct by Nick towards Jenny or anyone else.”

“Nick’s conduct was entirely respectful and professional.”

“I saw Nick and Jenny together and never witnessed anything to indicate the relationship involved emotional abuse, manipulation, control or predatory behaviour on the part of Nick.”

“The break-up was hard for both of them but particularly so for Jenny.”

“Despite this, I saw Nick continuing to treat Jenny with courtesy and respect on a professional basis after the relationship broke up.”

She alleged Ms Low had previously made threats to go public with their relationship.

SA Best leader Nick Xenophon has emphatically rejected Ms Low’s claims. Picture: Lukas Coch/AAP

Ms Low made the claims alongside John Darley and Peter Humphries as they launched the Advance SA party.

The “centralist” party say it will be the first to have assisted dying as a policy platform.

“We understand that assisted dying is a divisive issue but Advance SA believes people should have a right to a choice” Peter Humphries said.

Mr Humphries will appear first on the Upper House ticket with Ms Low second.

Mr Darley will not be required to run as he does not complete his parliamentary term until 2022.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS — READ THE FULL STATEMENTS

Jenny Low

Nick Xenophon and Connie Bonaros

Originally published as SA Election 2018: Advance SA candidate Jenny Low claims former partner Nick Xenophon was ‘manipulative, controlling’ in their relationship