Nationals find insufficient evidence over Barnaby Joyce harassment claim

Catherine Marriott says the Nats inquiry into her sex harassment complaint against Barnaby Joyce underpins a need for change.

Catherine Marriott is “extremely disappointed” at the finding. Picture; Kym Smith.

The rural leader who made a sexual harassment complaint against Barnaby Joyce to the Nationals says she is disappointed the party’s eight-month investigation has been wound down without a finding.

Mr Joyce was deputy Prime Minister and Nationals leader and facing questions over his affair with his former staffer Vikki Campion when West Australian Nationals leader Mia Davies revealed he was also the subject of a formal complaint of sexual harassment.

Former West Australian of the Year Catherine Marriott today said she was pleased she stood up for what is right by making the complaint.

Ms Marriott issued a media release today in which she said: “I was informed yesterday afternoon by email that after an eight month investigation, the NSW National Party of Australia has been unable to make a determination about my complaint of sexual harassment against the former leader of that Party, Barnaby Joyce, due to insufficient evidence.

“This is despite the investigation finding I was ‘forthright, believable, open and genuinely upset’ by the incident. The result of this investigation has underpinned what is wrong with the process and the absolute dire need for change. This outcome simply isn’t good enough,” she said.

“I’m extremely disappointed that after eight months of waiting, three trips to the east coast at my own expense to meet with the Party, my name and confidential complaint being leaked to the national media, and my personal and professional life being upended, the National Party have reached a ‘no conclusion’ verdict.”

#BREAKING National Party finalises investigation into Barnaby Joyce, making no findings about the sexual harassment allegations made against him. Here's the statement from his accuser, Catherine Marriott #auspol @politicsabc pic.twitter.com/7e6x4gPwPW

— Jane Norman (@janeenorman) September 7, 2018

Mr Joyce was under pressure to quit over his affair with Ms Campion when he resigned as Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals leader on February 23 this year. He maintained then and later that the complaint from Ms Marriott was baseless.

Ms Marriott said that while she was dismayed at the finding, she was not surprised as the Nationals “never had the external processes in place to deal with a complaint of sexual harassment by a Member of Parliament”.

She said her complaint was handled internally by NSW National Party Executive with no professional external expert brought in at any stage to handle the matter.

“The only positive to come from this harrowing experience has been the development of a much improved policy by the Party that I volunteered to contribute towards and strongly encouraged the development of,” Ms Marriott said.

She said she had wanted the National Party to acknowledge that it needed to reform the way complaints such as hers were managed.

“I feel heartened that this has been achieved and people who find themselves in similar situations to me in the future will have a robust policy in place to assist them,” she said.

“While it has come at enormous personal expense, I was not prepared to walk past this kind of behaviour any longer.

“I am pleased I stood up for what I believed was right and I’m proud I found the courage to make a difference for other people who want to create influence through political circles in future.”

In a short statement, the NSW Nationals today confirmed its investigation of the complaint against Mr Joyce was complete and it would not release the report.

A spokesman for Mr Joyce said he stood by the statement he made in February regarding the allegations and had nothing further to add.

Mr Joyce has denied the sexual harassment allegation, which he labelled “spurious and defamatory”.

He said the allegation was the “straw that broke the camel’s back” when he resigned as Nationals leader. He had faced weeks of pressure over revelations he had an affair with his former staffer Vikki Campion, who gave birth to his first son earlier this year and who was moved between political offices in the midst of the relationship.