Expenses can’t buy groceries, staff warned Labor MP

Emma Husar has been accused of using parliamentary entitlements to buy household groceries including ­toilet paper.

A staff member takes Emma Husar's dog for a walk. Picture: Seven News

Federal Labor MP Emma Husar has been accused of using parliamentary entitlements to buy household groceries including ­toilet paper, The Australian has learned, as Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says he is sure Ms Husar will be prepared to refer any accusations to authorities for review.

Yesterday The Australian revealed that Ms Husar had been ­accused of using the taxpayer-funded Comcar service to travel to meet her divorce lawyer and that she had been questioned by staff over using parliamentary entitlements to fly to Melbourne to attend an Emily’s List function.

It has now emerged that Ms Husar’s former staffer Blake Mooney also raised concerns with her that she was inappropriately using her entitlements to buy household items, including toilet paper. This was not needed in her electorate office because it did not have a toilet.

It is understood Mr Mooney raised concerns with Ms Husar about her use of parliamentary entitlements on household items and the accusation has gone to the internal Labor Party inquiry being run into Ms Husar by barrister Jack Whelan.

Mr Mooney did not return calls yesterday or respond to questions. He is understood to be one of 20 witnesses Mr Whelan has spoken to concerning Ms Husar’s behaviour in the office, amid allegations of bullying, that she hired her nanny in the office, and required staff to undertake household chores. It is claimed she required staff to clean up dog excrement.

Neither Ms Husar nor Mr Shorten’s office denied yesterday that Mr Whelan’s investigation involved consideration of the purchase of the items. Mr Shorten defended the MP at a press conference in Queensland, saying the dog at the centre of staff bullying and misuse allegations was a therapy dog for her autistic son.

Asked whether it had been appropriate for a staff member to be picking up the dog’s excrement, Mr Shorten said he was “genuinely not aware” of the circumstances.

“Obviously in the heat of the investigation, I’ll treat the investigation process with respect, and anyone who has any complaints or concerns,” Mr Shorten said.

“But I will just make this one additional comment: you may or may not be aware that Emma Husar entered parliament because she was a disability advocate. She became a disability advocate because one of her children, her son, was diagnosed with autism. As I understand, before people go looking down at the issue of the dog, this is her support dog for her son.”

Asked whether the dog’s role as a support dog had any bearing on the propriety of a staff member being asked to pick up its faeces, Mr Shorten said: “I wouldn’t ask you or anyone else to pick up my dog’s poo, but that’s probably just what dog owners do. But I’m not walking the dog.”

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Asked how the investigation into Ms Husar could be independent, given it is being run by the Labor Party, Mr Shorten said it was not unusual for organisations to run their own investigations.

Labor sources have told The Australian both Mr Shorten and Labor’s general secretary, Kaila Murnain, have rallied around Ms Husar and are expected to back her against any move to disendorse her despite the controversy. It has included Channel 7 as recently as Tuesday filming Ms Husar’s staff picking up after the dog outside her office.

Mr Shorten’s chief of staff, Ryan Liddell, who is close to Ms Husar, had two phone conversations with her reassuring her on Tuesday night, it is understood, after she decided to go on personal leave amid the escalating scandal.

Another school of thought is that Mr Shorten may act on Ms Husar after the Super Saturday by-elections this weekend amid a belief that Ms Husar — who has already been endorsed for the marginal seat of Lindsay for the next federal election — will not resign.

Treasurer Scott Morrison said Mr Shorten should be “cleaning up” Ms Husar’s “mess”.

Workplace Relations Minister Craig Laundy called on Ms Murnain to refer the investigation to the Fair Work Ombudsman to guarantee independence.

“I mean, Jack Whelan, he’s not independent,” Mr Laundy said. “He’s a nice guy, but he’s formerly a chief of staff to Julia Gillard doing an investigation that Bill Shorten’s hiding behind.” .

Additional reporting: RACHEL BAXENDALE