Labor MP Emma Husar quits

EMMA Husar will not recontest her seat at the next election. “Enough is enough” she said, claiming she was the victim of a witch hunt.

EMBATTLED Labor MP Emma Husar has resigned saying “enough is enough” and that she has been the victim of a smear campaign by “faceless people”.

The resignation follows scrutiny over her use of travel entitlements and treatment of her staff including allegations of bullying and harassment.

But perhaps the most shocking allegation was a claim she exposed herself in the company of Labor frontbencher Jason Clare. Both she and Mr Clare refuted the allegation.

She told Nine that the allegations made her physically ill.

“When I heard that in the initial assessment I threw up,” Ms Husar said.

“It doesn’t just allege that I did something wrong to a grown up, but there was a child in the room, and that’s absolutely the lowest part of what’s gone on here.”

It’s thought there could more than 40 allegations being investigated by more than 20 former staffers.

Ms Hussar represented the knife edge western Sydney of Lindsay, which covers Penrith.

This afternoon, Ms Husar said it was a sad day.

“My family has made massive sacrifices for me, and I’ve given my all, to represent the community of Lindsay, survivors of domestic violence, people who rely on the NDIS and those who need Labor’s progressive policies”.

But in a strongly worded statement she laid into her critics saying she “maintained her silence” while others spread “vicious and baseless smears”.

“This vendetta lad to threats to my personal safety, the trolling of my children online and media parked outside my house around the clock. It has been terrifying for my kids and utterly traumatic for me”.

Emma Husar has resigned. Picture: Kym Smith

The Labor Party is currently investigating the allegations against Ms Husar. These include her attendance at a Bruno Mars concert in Brisbane, with flights paid for on the public purse, where questions have been raised over what public duties she performed.

But Ms Husar isn’t waiting for the findings, due on Friday.

“Once again, and for the record, I absolutely reject the malicious allegations which have been published to my great detriment.

“Given my reputation has been completely shredded by nameless, faceless people, I see no point in waiting for this report.

“This stops now. Enough is enough. I’ve spoken with Bill Shorten and let him know that I won’t be recontesting the next election.”

Ms Husar said she was going on her own terms.

Not for much longer. Picture: Monique Harmer.

“I will fight to clear my name from the unbelievable mud that’s been thrown at it.”

The resignation comes just hours after Labor leader Bill Shorten said he would refuse to be “judge and jury” as he waits for a report into claims Ms Husar bullied and harassed her staff.

She has said the NSW Labor investigation has been compromised by leaks, but Mr Shorten refused to comment on whether that was the case.

“The nub of your question is that the complaints process has been undermined by a lot of people talking about it. I’m not going to make that mistake am I?” he told reporters on Wednesday.

“I’m not going to be judge and jury.” Mr Shorten says he made inquiries with his own staff about when they knew about the investigation into Ms Husar, and they confirmed they were unaware of it until contacted for media reports.

Lawyer John Whelan has been investigating the complaints of Ms Husar’s 22 former staff, with his report due to be handed to NSW Labor by Friday. They include claims she bullied and sexually harassed staff in her electorate office, and diverted Labor funds into her personal bank account. Ms Husar hit back, with documents published in Fairfax Media claiming other NSW Labor MPs have deliberately excluded her from events and are undermining her. But NSW Labor said the Whelan report was being done by the book, and rejected Ms Husar’s accusation that it had been compromised.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said it was hard to believe Mr Shorten wasn’t aware one of his MPs was being investigated.

“For Mr Shorten, the test is very clear. What did he know? When did he know it?” he told reporters.