Barnaby Joyce accuser Catherine Marriott becomes public ambassador for #UsToo movement

The woman outed as Barnaby Joyce’s sexual harassment accuser has become a public ambassador for the #UsToo movement.

Catherine Marriott at an #UsToo luncheon in Perth. Picture: Colin Murty

The woman outed as Barnaby Joyce’s sexual harassment accuser has become a public ambassador for the #UsToo movement but doesn’t want to talk about her experience with the former deputy prime minister.

Former West Australian Rural Woman of the Year Catherine Marriott made the complaint confidentially to the National Party in February but the allegations soon leaked.

Last month, Ms Marriott said she was extremely disappointed and dismayed that after an eight-month investigation, the NSW branch had been unable to make a determination about her complaint.

She added she was not surprised as the party “never had the external processes in place to deal with a complaint of sexual harassment by a member of parliament”.

Ahead of her speech at a Rural, Regional, Remote Women’s Network of WA lunch in Perth on Wednesday, Ms Marriott indicated her disappointment with the party’s handling of the case had eased.

“You can only hold on to frustration and anger for so long,” she told reporters. “The longer that I hold to those negative emotions, the longer it hurts myself. I have moved on from the results of that complaint.” Ms Marriott said she had discussed her own case previously and had no intention of going into details.

“I’m going to be sharing a little bit of my experience but most importantly, the lessons that I’ve learnt and any tips for individuals that may have been through this,” she said.

She said she also aimed to offer insight to corporate leaders handling sexual harassment issues in the workplace.

Mr Joyce has described her allegations as defamatory.

Ms Marriott’s speech will be the first public address she has delivered on sexual harassment.

“Eight months on she has put aside personal distress to effect real change for women who find themselves in similar situations,” the Rural, Regional, Remote Women’s Network of WA said.

On the sidelines of the event, Labor Senator Louise Pratt said sexual harassment was a very real, degrading and sometimes frightening experience. “It’s important to recognise the bravery of those who make complaints in a system that doesn’t adequately protect women, including and especially in political environments,” she said.

AAP