Kaila Murnain: NSW Labor secretary blasts party as she resigns amid ICAC probe

Kaila Murnain attacks the party as she resigns with a massive payout amid an ICAC donations probe.

Kaila Murnain has quit as general secretary of NSW Labor. Picture: AAP

NSW general secretary Kaila Murnain has attacked the Labor Party’s “nasty culture” of sexism as she resigned from her post.

Murnain quit after receiving a payout believed to be worth $250,000 as a severance involving leave entitlements and a further $450,000 to pay for legal costs related to ICAC.

The amount paid to Ms Murnain was made after Ms Murnain sought a severance payment as high as $600,000, The Australian understands.

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Ms Murnain was forced to admit to ICAC that she sat on an allegation that a $100,000 illegal donation was made by Chinese developer and suspected agent of foreign influence Huang Xiangmo to the Labor Party prior to the 2015 state election.

Ms Murnain posted today a lengthy statement on Twitter speaking of a “nasty culture” of sexism in the Labor Party but saying she was “sorry” she had let people down.

Please see my statement below. pic.twitter.com/xMUpnuVp08

— Kaila Murnain 🙋🏻‍♀️💪 (@kailamurnain) October 17, 2019

“I am sad to leave the party office. Many wonderful party members have supported me in my 11 years in the party office and they supported me as I tried to make our party better.

“I joined the Labor Party in 2000 when I was a high school kid growing up on a farm in Narrabri.

“. . In February 2016 I became General Secretary. I was the first woman to fill this role. I was 29 years old.

“The circumstances leading up to my election in 2016 were horrendous.. I believe it in inarguable that our party has never fully grappled with the nasty culture of sexism which women face in politics.”

Ms Murnain said she was proud of her achievements at head office, welcomed the Lavarch review but added: “I dedicated my entire life to Labor. I am devastated to leave. I’m sorry to have let you down.”

Opposition Leader Jodi McKay said in a statement: “Kaila made a terrible error of judgment and has no further future in the Labor Party.

“Any person should receive their lawful entitlements. I am outraged on behalf of our thousands of loyal, decent party members that it has been such a drawn out process.

“My focus now is on cleaning up head office. This must never happen again.”

Ms Murnain’s resignation paves the way for RTBU official Bob Nanva to become general secretary of the party.

On Sunday, Federal Labor leader Anthony Albanese and NSW Labor leader Jodi McKay announced a review into the general secretary’s role.

The NSW Labor Right faction has endorsed Bob Nanva to replace Kaila Murnain as NSW Labor secret­ary. Picture: Supplied

Mr Albanese has said the national executive of the party will act to implement the recommendations of the review by former Federal Attorney-General Michael Lavarch, which is expected to split the duties of the general secretary into two or three roles.

But on Monday night, the NSW Right endorsed unanimously its candidate to replace Ms Murnain, Mr Nanva.

In a statement Thursday morning, Labor Party president Mark Lennon said: “Earlier today, Kaila Murnain tendered her resignation as General Secretary of the NSW Labor Party.

“The terms of the separation agreement are confidential but consist of Ms Murnain’s basic legal entitlements.

“The full terms of the entitlement will be reported to the next meeting of the Administrative Committee.

“The Party is actively considering seeking the recovery of all its costs related to the [ICAC] inquiry, including the sum payable to Ms Murnain, under its insurance policies and from its previous lawyers.

“A new branch secretary will not be elected until the review into the branch currently being conducted by Professor Michael Lavarch, has provided its recommendations on the role of the General Secretary.”