Lidia Thorpe makes tearful address about experience in Parliament House, David Van dumped from Liberal Party
Peter Dutton ordered a senator at the centre of the Lidia Thorpe claims to leave the party room after a former Liberal senator alleged he had also touched her inappropriately.
Peter Dutton has ordered senator David Van to move to the crossbench pending an investigation after further allegations against the Liberal member came to light overnight.
Senator Van was accused by Senator Lidia Thorpe of harassing and sexually assaulting her in a heated clash in the chamber on Wednesday, claims she later withdrew due to comply with procedure.
On Thursday, former Liberal senator Amanda Stoker alleged she had also been inappropriately touched by Senator Van at an informal social gathering in a parliamentary office in 2020.
“He did so by squeezing my bottom twice. By its nature and by its repetition, it was not accidental,” Ms Stoker said in a statement.
“That action was not appropriate. It was unprofessional and uninvited.
“He apologised and said he would never do it again.”
Mr Dutton said he made the decision to expel Senator Van after other allegations were brought to his attention.
“As such, I met with Senator Van this morning and a short time ago, I advised Senator Van of my decision that he should no longer sit in the Liberal Party party room,” he said just before question time.
“At the outset, I want to make clear, very clear, that I’m not making any judgment on the veracity of the allegations or any individual’s guilt or innocence.”
Mr Dutton said he had referred the allegations to the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service.
VAN DENIES ALLEGATIONS, WANTS INVESTIGATION
Just moments after Mr Dutton finished his statement, Senator Van rose to his feet in the upper house and confirmed he would no longer sit in the Liberal party room.
“I do not wish this matter to stay in the Liberal Party that I have fought so hard for, so I accept that I will no longer be sitting in the party room,” he said.
Senator Van, who has repeatedly denied the allegations against him, described the claims as being “concocted from beginning to end”.
He called for an investigation into Senator Thorpe’s claims.
“There should be and must be an investigation into these outrageous claims so that they can be proved to be false,” he said.
“I will fully co-operate with the investigators and answer any questions that they may have of me and Senator Thorpe should do the same.”
THORPE’S TEARFUL ADDRESS
In a tearful address to the Senate, Senator Thorpe alleged she had been sexually harassed inside Parliament House and declared the building was “not a safe place”.
The Victorian senator did not name the man who she accused of following and cornering her in a stairwell.
“What I experienced was being followed aggressively, propositioned and inappropriately touched,” Senator Thorpe said under parliamentary privilege.
“To me, it was sexual assault and the government at the time recognised it as such. At the time I spoke to the president of the Senate about it.
“I spoke to my colleagues about it … I spoke to senior leaders in the Liberal Party and it was assured that the Prime Minister was informed at the time.
“I was convinced that the government believed me. The actions immediately moving the person’s office reassured me that they understood the seriousness of what I experienced.”
She claimed there were “others who have touched (her)” and made her feel unsafe.
But the senator said she would not be making a complaint to the police.
“I will not pursue legal action against the senator. I will not go to the police, this is my choice,” Senator Thorpe said.
“But I will continue to speak out against the abuse and harassment that happens in this building.”
The statement came just a day after Senator Thorpe accused Senator Van of “harassing” and ”sexually assaulting” her.
She later withdrew the accusation to comply with chamber procedure.
The claims were made while the Victorian Liberal was making a speech accusing Labor of inappropriate behaviour in its handling of Brittany Higgins’ rape allegation.
Senator Van immediately rejected the accusations as “untrue” and “unfounded”.
Speaking with 2GB on Thursday, Senator Van confirmed he moved offices after the independent senator made a complaint against him in 2021.
“To put this on the record, she’d made an allegation to our leadership, through her leadership, that I was following her into the chamber which made her uncomfortable,’’ Senator Van said.
“At times I’d be in front of her. At times I’d be behind her. But at no time did I harass her, touch her, barely even said ‘hello’. I’m sure I said hello at some point.
“So the leadership offered me another office – so I moved.”
He said he was “shattered” by the allegations.
“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.
“I have not harassed her in any shape or form.”
“If she has any belief that anything happened, I’d encourage her to take it to the police. Don’t hide behind parliamentary privilege. Take it to the police. Let the courts decide.”
AMANDA STOKER REVEALS ALLEGED INCIDENT
Ms Stoker, who was an LNP senator for Queensland from 2019 to 2020, said the alleged incident with Senator Van happened in November 2020.
She said she met with Senator Van the following day and contemporaneous notes of the meeting were taken.
“It never happened again,” she said.
She also advised a senior female colleague of the alleged incident and the action she had taken.
“I would have preferred that the matter be resolved privately and finally – as I thought it was,” she said.
“However, following Senator Thorpe’s allegations, it is now clear that is no longer tenable.
“I do not know of any other similar events or reports.”
Senator Van said he told Mr Dutton during their meeting that he did not recall the incident with Senator Stoker, but said they had been addressed three years ago.
“They were things that were raised by my colleagues three years ago. We had a frank and open and friendly discussion about them,” Senator Van said at Melbourne Airport on Thursday night.
“I said I had no recollection of the events at all and said it was not something I would do.
“But you have to respect colleagues if they feel like something has happened. I support them, we remained friends from that day since.”.
HANSON LASHES OUT AT THORPE
As Senator Thorpe left the chamber, Senator Pauline Hanson made an inaudible remark that prompted the Victorian to tell the One Nation leader to “f**k off”.
Later, just prior to senate question time, the One Nation leader accused Senator Thorpe of “crocodile tears” about her complaint.
Senator Hanson declared that she had never felt unsafe inside Parliament House and she had “no qualms” with the building.
“What I find offensive is her remarks and her crocodile tears,” she said.
“I do know that this is coming from a person who is the most abusive woman.”
GREENS BACK FORMER COLLEAGUE
Greens senator Larissa Waters has thrown her weight behind her former colleague, telling the chamber Senator Thorpe’s statement reflects what she disclosed to the party leadership at the time of the incident.
“She was greatly distressed. We backed her and supported her and sought solutions alongside her through discussions with the Senate President at the time, the Liberal Senate leadership and the prime minister’s office,” she said.
“The Set the Standard report found that one in three parliamentary staffers in this building had experienced some form of sexual harassment as had many female parliamentarians.
Senator Waters expressed frustration at the discourse surrounding survivors of sexual assault.
“Until last week, I really thought we were making progress. But all this week, we have seen the appalling politicisation of the allegations made by Brittany Higgins, a most courageous and dignified young woman,” she said.
“This has been an incredibly distressing week for so many of us, and for so many survivors. Support Services have said what a chilling effect this rampant weaponisation of a young woman’s alleged rape will have on victim survivors everywhere.
“The behaviour on display here and this week only serves to validate the concerns of victim survivors, that they will be ignored, that they will lose their jobs that they will not be believed.”
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