Bill Shorten on Emma Husar: ‘I didn’t know until Wednesday’

Bill Shorten says Emma Husar is a hardworking MP, and he will let an investigation into bullying allegations run its course.

Emma Husar in the House of Representatives. Picture: Kym Smith

Bill Shorten says Labor MP Emma Husar is a hardworking member of parliament, and he will let an investigation of workplace bullying allegations against her run its course.

The Labor leader claimed he first learnt of the allegations last Wednesday, despite The Australian revealing today that the issue caused a row between former NSW police minister Peter Anderson and Labor general secretary Kaila Murnain at the NSW Right faction’s Christmas party last year, where Mr Anderson told Ms Murnain she had to do something.

Mr Shorten’s comments come after Labor MP Mike Kelly has defended Ms Husar against claims she misused staff, arguing taxpayer-funded babysitting is a “small price to pay” for “facilitating the ability of women to participate in our parliament”.

The Australian revealed today that among a raft of allegations being presented to Labor about the embattled member for Lindsay is the accusation that she employed her nanny in her electorate office.

This is in addition to the staffer revealed last week to be living with her and helping with domestic ­duties, Vanessa Song.

The nanny is said to have been engaged as a casual employee in the office.

Other allegations aired include those in The Weekend Australian that it was common for Ms Husar to require staff to serve in work time as “babysitters” for two of her three children, to wash dishes, walk her dog, clean up dog ­excrement and do other chores.

It was also reported last week that Ms Husar allegedly told a male staff member to do her dishes so he could learn about “white male privilege” and had called staff members “c … s” and “f. kwits”.

An advertisement for a media and policy adviser in Ms Husar’s office listed tasks as including “running errands” and “supporting various personal, professional and family obligations”.

Asked when and how he first learnt of the allegations against Ms Husar, Mr Shorten said: “My office notified me about Wednesday of last week.”

Asked where his office had got the information, Mr Shorten said: “I guess they were told by the New South Wales branch, and maybe there was a media inquiry.”

BuzzFeed News, which broke the story of the investigation late on Thursday, has reported that Mr Shorten was made aware of the allegations about Ms Husar’s behaviour last year. Mr Shorten and his office deny this.

Asked whether he was confident Ms Husar had not misused taxpayer funds, Mr Shorten said an investigation was underway.

“I think she’s been a hardworking member in her electorate, and I’m going to let the investigation by New South Wales Labor Party run its course,” he said.

Asked whether he would personally investigate the allegations, Mr Shorten said a procedure was in place.

“The complaints were made to the New South Wales Labor Party. They’re investigating it, and until that investigation is concluded, I’m not going to add any more,” he said.

Babysitting ‘small price to pay’

Mr Kelly said MP staff jobs did not end at 5pm, and assistance with family tasks was necessary to help female MPs do their jobs.

“It’s 24/7. Look, what’s the debate we’ve been having in recent years? It’s been getting better female representation in the House of Representatives, particularly on the Coalition side, but Labor’s approaching that 50 per cent mark,” Mr Kelly told Sky News.

“We’re working really hard at that, but in order for us to make that happen and for us to enable people at all stages of their working life to be able to participate in our democracy, we have to make sure that they can deal with their circumstances, and look, you’ve got a hardworking young woman here, a single mother with three kids having to juggle a very tough electorate in Lindsay, with a lot of diverse issues, and then of course do the commute to Canberra.

“Obviously she’s been upfront with people about the help that she needs in doing her job, and really, we have to try and facilitate the ability of young women and women in general to be in parliament.”

Asked whether he was saying it was reasonable for someone on a salary of more than $200,000 to expect taxpayers to foot the bill for childcare, Mr Kelly said parliamentarians commonly had their children looked after by staff in Canberra.

“It happens now when you see parliamentarians who have their children with them here during sitting weeks and they have to be in the chamber, obviously it’s better for the proceedings of the chamber if children aren’t in the chamber if you can help it, and so often someone’s got to be looking after that child while they’re in the chamber,” he said.

“It’s a small price to pay for having a truly representative democracy and facilitating the ability of women to participate in our parliament. That’s important.”