Pressure is on David Van to resign from the Senate as the Liberals cut him off from party resources and support

The senator accused by three women of inappropriate behaviour in parliament has been dealt another blow by the Liberal party.

The Victorian Liberal party is considering Senator David Van’s future in the party following allegations of inappropriate touching and harassment towards three women in parliament.

Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton moved swiftly on Thursday to remove Mr Van from the Liberal party room once the allegations – first made sensationally by independent senator Lidia Thorpe – were made public.

He has since said the senator should resign.

On Friday night, the Liberal party released a statement saying it was suspending “all organisational resources and support from Senator Van.”

“There will be an urgent meeting this weekend of the party’s Victorian administrative committee to further consider the allegations raised,” the statement said.

Senator David Van has denied the allegations of inappropriate behaviour raised by three women in parliament. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Senator Van has several times strenuously denied any wrongdoing, first in the Senate on Thursday then later when at Melbourne Airport on Thursday night.

On Friday, he issued a fresh statement claiming his reputation had been “savaged without due process or accountability”.

Mr Dutton wants Senator Van to resign from parliament, calling the allegations credible.

“That’s why I draw the conclusion, it’s now for Senator Van as a crossbench senator to make up his own mind but I believe he should resign,” he told Sky News on Friday night.

Several other senior MPs, including Liberal frontbenchers Angus Taylor and Simon Birmingham and Labor minister Bill Shorten, have also called for Senator Van to resign from the parliament.

Speaking with 2GB radio, Mr Taylor said it was in “everybody’s best interest” for the senator to tender his resignation.

Liberal MP Angus Taylor has joined calls for senator David Van to resign. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Liberal leader Peter Dutton has removed Senator Van from the party room. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Host Deborah Knight asked if this was fair given that none of these allegations had been stood up in court.

“Well, I think it‘s absolutely clear that these allegations are very serious from very credible people,” Mr Taylor said.

Ms Knight also referred to claims that the allegations were an “open secret” among members of parliament.

NDIS Minister Bill Shorten, who was also present for the radio segment, rejected the claims and said he had no idea until Ms Thorpe brought them to light on Thursday.

“I didn’t know this, and I’m quite sure a lot of people were completely unaware that this happened,” he said.

The two women who have gone public with their allegations against Senator Van – Senator Thorpe and former Liberal senator Amanda Stoker – have both confirmed they do not wish to report their claims to police.

Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe told the Senate that senator Van had sexually assaulted her at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Former senator Amanda Stoker also came forward with an allegation against Senator Van. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

The third person has asked to remain anonymous.

On Friday, Senator Van said he would wanted the matters dealt with “quickly and fairly”.

“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,” he said in the statement.

“I will fully co-operate 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.”

Given that none of the women plan to report their allegations to police, it is unclear what next steps will be taken to examine the claims.

Ms Stoker confronted Senator Van about his behaviour the day after the incident at an informal social gathering in a parliamentary office in December 2020.

“I never wanted this to be public. But I’m also not about to cover it up,” she said on Sky on Friday night.

“ Given that Senator Van has now denied the behaviour, even though it was promptly reported, and even though it was documented, well, it tells me something.

“It tells me that speaking up was the right thing to do. After all, the standard we walked past is the standard we accept.”