ALP boss Jamie Clements accepts restrictions in AVO truce

Former staffer blasts NSW Labor culture after ALP boss Jamie Clements accepts restrictions in AVO truce.

Labor GS Jamie Clements

NSW ALP boss Jamie Clements will not be able to enter NSW parliament by himself under the terms of a deal with a parliamentary staffer who accused him of trying to kiss her.

Stefanie Jones dropped an application for an apprehended violence order yesterday as part of a court-sanctioned agreement for Mr Clements to stay away from her for the next 12 months.

The agreement achieved what Ms Jones, a parliamentary staffer to Labor backbencher Greg Warren, wanted without having a contested court ­hearing.

Mr Clements’s parliamentary pass was withdrawn by the Leader of the Opposition, Luke Foley, following the incident, although Mr Foley has declined to involve himself since then, despite the urgings of some of his MPs.

Without a parliamentary pass, Mr Clements has to be ­accompanied by a pass holder around Parliament House, as other visitors are.

Ms Jones, a former Labor candidate for Cronulla, applied for an AVO in August after alleging Mr Clements tried to kiss her. She had a brief relationship with Mr Clements, a married ­father of three, some years earlier.

The incident unleashed a flurry of controversies, including a critical report into the culture of the ALP towards women.

Mr Clements has also been referred to the NSW Electoral Commission over allegations he facilitated accessing the electoral roll for an associate of Derrick Belan, who was looking for a former girlfriend.

In a statement, Mr Clements said he was pleased with the resolution and hoped it “will give everyone involved in this matter the chance to move on”.

He noted that he had always contested the version of events and “the agreement reached today is without admission on my part”.

“Having had discussions with my family and colleagues, I have decided this is the best way to move forward and focus on the challenges of 2016,” he said.

Mr Clements said he was now looking forward to working on reforms from the reviews into the party leading into the NSW state conference, as well the upcoming federal election.

Ms Jones said after the court hearing: “I’m happy that the court proceedings have come to an end, yes. It’s a great relief that he can’t come near me again.”

Ms Jones also claimed there has been a lack of support from the party leadership over the matter and says

“There’s such a lack of support ... as long as the party has people like (that), the filth ... the continuation of disgusting treatment of women will continue,” she told the Daily Telegraph.

“I would say if you’re a woman in the Labor Party be careful,” she added. “It’s heartbreaking when you come forward; when you’re the person who has not done anything wrong and you have people openly calling you a ‘slut’; it could not be further from the truth.”