Emma Husar announces she won’t run at next federal election

Emma Husar has taken aim at “nasty” figures within Labor as she announced she won’t run for her seat at the next election.

Emma Husar has announced she is not going to run for the seat of Lindsay at the next election, taking aim at “faceless” figures within the Labor Party.

Ms Husar has told Channel 9 she will stay in the parliament as a Labor MP but not run at the next election.

“It is an incredibly sad day for me. I have just derived immense pleasure from being able to represent my community, but enough is enough,” Ms Husar told Channel 9.

Ms Husar said because she hadn’t come through the Labor “machine”, she was targeted by certain sections of the party for not having done an ALP “apprenticeship”.

“These nameless and faceless people are not a reflection of what Labor is capable of … (or of) what we should be talking about.

“A few nasty, faceless people, can ruin someone’s career. Almost completely smash it in absolute pieces. And leave my reputation in absolute pieces.”

Ms Husar told Nine she was ill when she heard allegations she had exposed herself to fellow Labor MP Jason Clare.

“When I heard that in the initial assessment I threw up,” Ms Husar said.

“It doesn’t just allege that I did something wrong to a grown up, but there was a child in the room, and that’s absolutely the lowest part of what’s gone on here.”

Ms Husar’s announcement came hours after The Australian published an interview with Angela Hadchiti who alleged she received “insensitive and brutal’’ treatment during six months of working as a staffer for the MP.

Ms Hadchiti also alleged that her ex-boss was involved in “bizarre events’’ that led to the sudden month-long disappearance of her daughter.

She said the allegations had taken a toll on her children.

“Day after day, watching my reputation be smeared and my kids trolled online, that’s been incredibly tough,” she said.

Bill Shorten with Emma Husar. Picture: AAP

“I’ve always said my kids are resilient and they’ve rolled with being in public life and accept that I’ve been busy at times.

“I don’t know if my reputation will ever recover. Enough is enough. I’m going to do this on my terms. I’m not going to let people keep pummelling me the way they have the last three weeks. No evidence, no facts. Just vexatious allegations that are just designed to smear me.

“I could’ve absolutely done better. Am I perfect? No way. I’m not going to sit here and say that I’m perfect. But did I do those things? Absolutely not.”

Ms Husar added she always had Bill Shorten’s support.

“He’s always backed me, always believed in me, and will continue to believe in me, that won’t change.

“He knows the person I am, the good that I’ve done.”

It is understood the move comes with Labor officials ready to move on Ms Husar this Friday at an administrative committee meeting.

Party sources told The Australian that Ms Husar had been told she could go “her way or the party’s way”.

In a statement confirming her decision to not recontest her seat, Ms Husar said she was “proud” of her “short time in Canberra”.

“I’ve given my all, to represent the community of Lindsay, survivors of domestic violence, people who rely on the NDIS,” she said.

Ms Husar added she saw “no point” waiting for the findings of a NSW Labor assessment into the complaints against her, as her “reputation has been completely shredded”.

Bill Shorten said in a statement: “This has been a very difficult period of Emma and her family. I respect the decision she’s made.”

Coalition’s pressure on Shorten

The Turnbull government ratcheted up pressure on Mr Shorten to explain what he knew about the circumstances surrounding Ms Husar, when he knew of the allegations and what actions he took.

“Bill Shorten talks a lot about the workers but this is yet another example of Bill Shorten selling the workers down the river. Bill Shorten needs to front. He needs to give an account of what he knew, when he knew it and what he did,” cabinet minister Mitch Fifield said.

“There are reportedly 22 Labor staff who have made complaints, what role has Bill Shorten played in this cover up? Does Bill Shorten still believe that it’s a crime to bully? Can Bill Shorten guarantee that there has been no misuse of taxpayer funds? That there has been no abuse of parliamentary entitlements and that there are no workplace laws that have been breached?”

Federal Minister for Communications Mitch Fifield. Picture: AAP

Senator Fifield said the Whelan report into the allegations against Ms Husar needed to be made public “so we can all know what has occurred”.

“Did Bill Shorten’s staff receive phone calls about these matters? Did those staff tell Bill Shorten what was happening? And if they didn’t tell Bill Shorten, what sort of operation is he running?” he said.

Shorten, staff at odds over Husar

Bill Shorten has publicly reiterated his claim that he did not learn of staff bullying and intimidation allegations against Emma Husar until his office was contacted by the media, despite a former staff member of the embattled NSW Labor MP saying complainants have been speaking to the Labor leader’s office “for months”.

Mr Shorten’s claim that he was not aware of the allegations against Ms Husar until shortly before they were published by BuzzFeed News on July 18 contradicts a claim from single mother of three Angela Hadchiti.

Ms Hadchiti said she had approached The Australian to speak out because she was infuriated that Ms Husar was publicly dismissing allegations of alleged ­office bullying and harassment by blaming disgruntled ex-staffer Jeremy Anderson for a political “stitch-up”.

“There is not one staffer ­involved in this,” said Ms Hadchiti, who is the first former employee of Ms Husar to speak publicly about working for the federal MP for Lindsay in Sydney’s west.

“I want to take the burden off Jeremy Anderson and his father. There are 22 of us, and we are in this together. We have been speaking to Bill Shorten’s office, to NSW Labor and to the union for months.”

Ms Hadchiti told The Australian, she received “insensitive and brutal” treatment during six months working in Ms Husar’s office, and alleges that her ex-boss was involved in “bizarre events” that led to the sudden month-long disappearance of her daughter.

Mr Shorten today said he “absolutely” stands by his comments that he did not know of the Husar allegations until his office was contacted by BuzzFeed.

He said he did not believe Ms Hadchiti had approached his office, but was not asked whether other complainants had done so.

“I’ve made my own inquiries, and none of my staff have confirmed that (Ms Hadchiti contacted the office),” Mr Shorten said.

“Let’s just talk about the investigation momentarily, because I think underpinning that question is the bigger question.

“I think the obvious and appropriate course of action, once there’s been a complaints process initiated, is to let it conclude.

“That’s what I’m going to do, and I’m not going to provide a running commentary about this matter until the report is concluded.”

Health Minister Greg Hunt said the onus was on Mr Shorten to explain when he knew about the allegations out of Ms Husar’s office.

“For Mr Shorten the test is very clear: what did he know and when did he know it and let us know today,” Mr Hunt.

“Lets just say there are some contradictions from many people within the ALP.”

Ms Husar has today accused a state Labor parliamentary colleague — understood to be shadow minister Prue Car — of deliberately “isolating” her and excluding her from media events within her own electorate, Fairfax Media is reporting.

The allegations are reportedly detailed in a supplementary response to barrister John Whelan, who was appointed by the NSW ALP in March to investigate the alleged bullying in Ms Husar’s office.

Mr Whelan’s report is due to be presented to party bosses this week, ahead of parliament returning on Monday.

Additional reporting: Rosie Lewis, Rachel Baxendale, Brad Norington, Greg Brown