Former Liberal MP who quit party over bullying at centre of workplace claims

A young woman was reportedly paid compensation after she alleged she had been bullied by former Liberal MP Julia Banks.

Former Liberal MP Julia Banks MP. Picture: Supplied

An independent MP who quit the Liberal Party claiming she had been bullied, Julia Banks, was the target of a workplace bullying complaint which resulted in a young woman being paid compensation, according to a new report

The Australian has reported the complaint against Ms Banks was made in 2010 by a young woman working as an executive assistant for the pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).

Independent MP Julia Banks. Picture: The Australian

The complaint was investigated and GSK paid compensation to the female assistant with an agreed confidentiality agreement.

According to The Australian, the young woman left her job of 13 years at GSK when the complaint was investigated. Ms Banks was working as a corporate lawyer in Melbourne for GSK at the time.

The Australian reported that the MP said this week: “Confidential employment matters of GSK should be referred to GSK.”

The report said GSK declined to comment.

Ms Banks, 56, won the seat of Chisolm in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs at the 2016 election, becoming the only Coalition candidate to win a Labor-held seat following the retirement of Anna Burke.

After Scott Morrison replaced Malcolm Turnbull as Prime Minister in 2018, Ms Banks said she would not contest the 2019 election and she subsequently quit the party to sit in parliament as an independent.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Picture: The Australian

“The scourge of cultural and gender bias, bullying and intimidation continues against women in politics, the media, and across businesses,” she said in a statement at the time.

“In anticipating my critics saying I’m ‘playing the gender card’ - I say this. Women have suffered in silence for too long and in this last twelve months the world has seen many courageous women speak out. To young women and men reading this announcement – I say I’ve only ever aspired to inspire. If I’ve inspired any one of you to have leadership courage - that will sustain me.”

She later announced she would in fact contest the election as an independent candidate in the seat of Flinders, currently held by Health Minister Greg Hunt.

Health Minister Greg Hunt. Picture: The Australian

The Australian reported last September that a leaked Liberal Party report contained allegations that Ms Banks mistreated campaign workers. She strongly denied the claims and The Australian said it was not suggesting the allegations made against Ms Banks were accurate, only that they had been made.

To read more go to The Australian

Originally published as Former Liberal MP who quit party over bullying at centre of workplace claims