Upper Hunter MP Michael Johnsen resigns from NSW Parliament

Upper Hunter MP Michael Johnsen has quit Parliament, saying he needs to withdraw from public life to fight a rape allegation, forcing a byelection in one of the state’s most marginal seats.

Mr Johnsen on Wednesday denied the accusation he raped a sex worker in the Blue Mountains in 2019, while claiming media harassment had left him unable to continue serving the electorate.

“I vehemently deny this allegation, which is devastating, unfair and unfounded,” he said, describing himself as an “imperfect human.”

“Given the harassment of some sections of the media, which has gone beyond that which could considered professional, the only way of navigating this situation has been to withdraw from public life.”

Michael Johnsen has handed in his resignation. He has strenuously denied a rape allegation which is the subject of a police investigation.Credit: Louise Kennerley

His resignation will prompt a byelection in the seat he has held since 2015. The Nationals, the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers, Labor, One Nation and the Greens are all expected to run candidates.

One senior Nationals source said the party could have as many as six possible candidates, while a Shooters figure said the party had identified Upper Hunter as “one of its target seats”.

Deputy Premier John Barilaro first announced Mr Johnsen’s resignation on Wednesday, followed revelations Mr Johnsen also offered the same woman $1000 for sex in NSW Parliament House.

“Today I welcome Mr Johnsen’s resignation from the NSW Parliament,” Mr Barilaro said.

Mr Barilaro issued an apology to the people of the Upper Hunter and said he would always put integrity before politics.

“I want to say to the communities of the Upper Hunter that I am sorry,” he said.

“But please be assured the NSW Nationals’ focus has always been, and will always be, on delivering for the Upper Hunter and keeping our communities safe and secure.”

Mr Johnsen on Wednesday said the Upper Hunter had been a privilege to serve and that his resignation came with a “heavy heart.”

“I believe I have served it well, having bought hundreds of millions of dollars of government investment into the electorate during my tenure,” he said.

“The needs of the electorate come first and that is the approach I have always taken, often at great personal sacrifice such as the role of a member of parliament demands and many may not fully realise.”

Mr Johnsen said his family and his partner were his priority, while he was struggling with the impact on his mental health and wellbeing.

“I am an imperfect human and I own that. I will fight the allegation and expect to have my name cleared, as it just didn’t happen,” he said.

Police are investigating the rape allegation.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she was relieved to learn of Mr Johnsen’s resignation, describing it as a good outcome.

Ms Berejiklian on Tuesday said she was “absolutely disgusted” by reports Mr Johnsen “sexted” the woman during question time and sent her a video of himself performing a lewd act.

The ABC says it has seen hundreds of online messages and texts sent from Mr Johnsen’s phone to the woman between August and September 2019.

Mr Johnsen was last week revealed as the MP at the centre of the sexual assault claim first raised by Labor MP Trish Doyle in Parliament. Ms Doyle did not name Mr Johnsen, however he quickly identified himself as the subject.

Mr Barilaro subsequently sought Mr Johnsen’s resignation as parliamentary secretary and removed him from the Nationals and Coalition party rooms last week.

Mr Johnsen on Wednesday accused Ms Doyle of leaking his name to the media after using parliamentary privilege to describe the allegation, showing political intent “to politically and personally damage me outside of the due process already underway.”