Peter Dutton calls for Senator David Van to resign after three complaints

Liberal leader Peter Dutton has called on Victorian Senator David Van to resign from Parliament after a third complaint surfaced about his conduct.

Senators David Van, Lidia Thorpe

Liberal leader Peter Dutton has called on Victorian Senator David Van to resign from Parliament after a third complaint surfaced about his conduct.

Mr Dutton made the shock call on Friday despite the fact Senator Van denies the allegations and that a workplace investigation is not finalised.

He has already suspended him from the Liberal Party forcing the Victorian MP to sit on the crossbench while the matter is investigated.

“The membership of the party is an issue for the party to resolve [but] I think it’s in everyone’s best interest that he resign from the parliament, and I hope he is able to do that sooner than later,” Dutton told host Ray Hadley this morning.

“I think that would be an appropriate next step.”

It comes after Senator Van declared his “good reputation had been wantonly savaged”.

The Liberal Party has suspended Senator Van from the party room while the claims are investigated by the parliamentary workplace authority.

The new body was established in the wake of Brittany Higgins’ original complaints about the workplace’s HR processes.

Senator Van said he planned to fully cooperate with the investigation and looked forward to clearing his name.

“I am utterly shattered by the events of the past days and stunned that my good reputation can be so wantonly savaged without due process or accountability,” Senator Van said in a statement.

“I will fully cooperate with whatever process Mr Dutton proposes to determine these matters as quickly and fairly as possible.”

“While I understand the public interest is high, I will not be making any more public statements on the allegations until a proper examination of these claims is concluded.”

Senator Lidia Thorpe says it “wasn’t until a white woman stood up” that her sexual assault allegation was taken seriously. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Third allegation against Senator David Van

Earlier, Liberal leader Peter Dutton confirmed he was aware of a third accusation against Senator David Van.

“Yes, I am, and I raised another allegation with Senator Van, but I’m not going to comment in relation to those matters otherwise,’’ he told the Today show.

“I made a decision yesterday based on all of the information that was available to me.

“It had come to me overnight and on that morning I raised it with him.”

Mr Dutton said he did not regret acting swiftly to suspend Senator Van while the matter was investigated by the appropriate authorities.

“I think every leader in the parliament needs to act and act swiftly if allegations are brought to his or her attention,” Dutton said.

Sky News’ Amanda Stoker (above) alleged she had her bottom squeezed by Senator David Van. He has denied the allegations. Picture David Clark

Lidia Thorpe lashes ‘racist’ reaction

Senator Lidia Thorpe, the first woman to raise claims against Senator Van, lashed the “racist” reaction to her complaint in an interview this morning.

The independent senator slammed the media after a week of drama triggered by parliamentary debate on claims Labor “weaponised” Brittany Higgins allegation that she was raped in Parliament house.

“I became the perpetrator, the person that was demonised,” she said.

“And I had a media pile on that day. And it wasn’t until a white woman stood up and said, ‘Yeah, this happened to me too’, that the media took notice.

“And I think that is a great account of the media landscape in this country, and that is systemic racism.”

Senator Thorpe said the narrative suddenly changed on Thursday night when former Liberal frontbencher Amanda Stoker stepped forward with her own allegation.

Ms Stoker, who is now a host on Sky News, said she previously complained after having her “bottom squeezed” by the same senator.

“I was not believed. I was questioned. I was absolutely demonised,’’ Senator Thorpe said.

“And you wonder why women don’t speak out. You wonder why we are silenced.”

Senator David Van and his wife Nerilee. Picture: Facebook

Senator Van responds to allegations

Senator Van said the claim was completely untrue and he had never had physical contact with Senator Thorpe.

“I think the only time I’ve ever even touched her would have been when I shook her hand after her maiden speech. Nothing else that’s for sure,’’ he said.

The Victorian senator insisted he had a “very friendly” chat with Ms Stoker when she complained.

“I can confirm I had a very friendly and open discussion with my colleague some years ago about this and made it clear that I had no recollection of any such event, and can confirm it is not something I would ever do,” he told news.com.au on Thursday.

Senator Van said Ms Thorpe’s claims were completely untrue. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Sky News host Amanda Stoker comes forward

Ms Stoker said she had hoped to keep the matter confidential but, in the wake of Senator Thorpe’s complaint, this was no longer tenable.

“In November 2020 Senator Van inappropriately touched me at an informal social gathering in a parliamentary office,’’ Ms Stoker said.

“He did so by squeezing my bottom twice. By its nature and by its repetition, it was not accidental.

“That action was not appropriate. It was unprofessional and uninvited.”

“He apologised and said he would never do it again. I accepted his apology and his undertaking.

“Contemporaneous notes of the meeting were taken and it never happened again.

Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley said she did not want to comment on who knew what and when in the Liberal Party in relation to Ms Stokers’ complaint.

“I am not going to go into the details of who said what in what circumstances but once this became known to our leadership, Peter Dutton acted,’’ she said.

“It’s always difficult for women to come forward. That is a general comment I want to make, it’s always difficult to step up and talk about things that have happened and workplaces do have to improve. Let’s wait for t”he parliamentary workplace support service to do its work.