Premier Steven Marshall bans embattled Liberal MP Sam Duluk

Fresh allegations about the drunken behaviour of Liberal MP at a work Christmas party have seen him banished.

Steven Marshall says, ‘I have advised Mr Duluk he is no longer to participate in any meetings of the Liberal parliamentary party’. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

South Australian MP Sam Duluk has been banished from the parliamentary Liberal Party as investigations continue into his inappropriate behaviour at an SA House Christmas party.

Police confirmed on Friday they are investigating an allegation of basic assault against Mr Duluk. Premier Steven Marshall said further allegations regarding incidents involving Mr Duluk have also been brought to his attention.

“This new information, combined with reports of a police investigation into Mr Duluk’s behaviour, renders his position in the Liberal Parliamentary Party untenable,” Mr Marshall said in a statement. “Accordingly, I have advised Mr Duluk he is no longer to participate in any meetings of the Liberal parliamentary party.”

As revealed by The Weekend Australian, Mr Duluk came under fire after he allegedly arrived at the party drunk before slapping SA-BEST MP Connie Bonaros on the buttocks on December 13.

He is also accused of sending her unwanted text messages. Ms Bonaros declined to comment on the police investigation.

The conservative Liberal MP also stands accused of racism, after he allegedly questioned an indigenous MP’s Aboriginality; and homophobia, after he allegedly made generalised disparaging remarks about gay people during the party.

SA-BEST MLC Connie Bonaros. Picture: Supplied

The unmarried former accountant had attended another drinks function for most of the afternoon before making a grand entrance at a Christmas party hosted by crossbenchers from the SA upper house. And, while he hasn’t said so explicitly, Mr Duluk’s only defence appears to be that he was so hammered that he has no idea what he got up to.

Duluk declined an invitation for an interview but The Weekend Australian understands he has not had a drink for more than a month.

“He’s taking it extremely seriously,” an MP friend told The Weekend Australian. “He has lost a heap of weight, probably not just from not drinking but from the pressure of it all.”

Premier Marshall said Mr Duluk had already paid a price by being stripped of the chairmanship of the parliamentary economic and finance committee, a $37,000 pay cut, and via extensive public shaming.

“Sam has of course apologised, he is very remorseful,” Mr Marshall said this week.

“When I spoke to him about this matter he said he couldn’t recall all of the details of the night but that he might have offended some people. For these people who say there’s been no consequences, that’s just not correct.

“He’s had a massive pay cut. It’s been a very humiliating time for him in the press. He has suffered consequences that wouldn’t have happened if this was the Christmas party at a furniture company, that’s for sure.”

Sam Duluk has publicly apologised. Picture: Mike Burton

The allegations against Mr Duluk have been building and widening during the past month.

They started in early January when SA Best MP Connie Bonaros, part of the crossbench team elected in 2018 under the banner of former independent senator Nick Xenophon, issued a public statement after rumours were swirling that she had been manhandled by the Liberal MP.

Ms Bonaros confirmed she had lodged an official complaint with the clerk of the Legislative Council stating Mr Duluk had slapped her on the backside and sent a barrage of unwanted text messages on the night. “I had not intended to discuss this matter openly at this stage but because it has now been made public feel I must,” her statement said.

“I have been taking legal advice in relation to the matter and continue to consider my options. All women should feel safe in their worksite. All men should understand that their harassing conduct can have a terrible impact on how safe women feel at work. I’m hopeful this matter will be dealt with appropriately.”

Since then, more claims against Mr Duluk have emerged.

It has been alleged that on the same night he told a Labor MP, Justin Hanson, that Labor’s legal affairs spokesman, Pitjantjatjara man Kyam Maher, was “not a real Aboriginal”.

While Mr Maher has neither confirmed nor denied the claim, Mr Hanson said that he had an argument with Mr Duluk and told him to leave the party.

“I found these remarks not only grossly offensive but clearly racist and immediately told him he was out of line,” Hanson said.

“Questioning somebody’s Aboriginality is totally unacceptable for anybody, let alone a member of parliament. I told him it was time for him to leave but he refused.”

With AAP