Nationals MP Michael Johnsen under fire over lewd text messages

Deputy Premier demands Michael Johnsen quit immediately amid reports he offered $1000 to a sex worker for a hook-up at NSW parliament.

NSW Upper Hunter MP Michael Johnsen.

Disgraced Nationals MP Michael Johnsen may be expelled from NSW parliament, with concerns the embattled Upper Hunter MP will resist pressure to quit and ride out his term in parliament.

After it was revealed Mr Johnsen sent a video of himself masturbating to the sex worker he allegedly raped, NSW Nationals leader John Barilaro called on him to resign from parliament, labelling his position “untenable”.

However, after his recent divorce left Mr Johnsen with almost nothing, and with NSW MPs paid $160,000 per annum, multiple party sources in told The Australian he may try to remain in office till the 2023 state election.

Text messages between Mr Johnsen and the alleged victim were exposed by the ABC, including an offer for $1000 from the Upper Hunter MP to attend NSW parliament for sex.

“I’ve been in contact with Michael Johnsen this morning and expressed the view that his position as member of parliament is untenable,” Mr Barilaro said on Tuesday morning. “This is disgusting behaviour and will never be acceptable, nor should it be, and I’m calling for him to resign from parliament immediately.

“It is now up to Mr Johnsen to reconsider his position as an independent member of parliament.”

Deputy NSW Premier John Barilaro. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Media statement - Michael Johnsen @JohnBarilaroMP#auspol#nswpolpic.twitter.com/fYCNs8vw2q

— Political Alert (@political_alert) March 29, 2021

The revelations come just days after Labor Blue Mountains MP Trish Doyle used parliamentary privilege to accuse a member of the government of raping a sex worker at a “secluded lookout” in Yellow Stone in the Blue Mountains. Hours later, Mr Johnsen outed himself as the MP in question. He quit the Nationals and is now sitting on the crossbench.

The possibility that Mr Johnsen may try and battle on as an MP has led Labor operatives to consider using a parliamentary mechanism to expel him from the parliament. Labor sources said this was an avenue the party was considering if he didn’t quit, but it would require Coalition support.

“A member adjudged by the House guilty of conduct unworthy of a member of parliament may be expelled by vote of the House, and the member’s seat declared vacant,” the standing order said.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian agreed with Mr Barilaro’s position, saying “a lot of us have had enough”. “For many women in public life, we know challenges exist, but when colleagues and former colleagues do that type of thing it’s beyond disgusting,” she told 2GB’s Ben Fordham on Tuesday morning.

Mr Johnsen categorically denies the allegations and insists any police investigation will find him the innocent party. “I have voluntarily spoken with NSW police and I have and will continue to fully co-operate with their inquiries,” he said in a statement on March 24.