Senate Estimates: ABC acting managing director David Anderson asks for ‘full brief’ of allegations against Luke Foley

Acting ABC Managing Director David Anderson says he has asked for a “full brief” of allegations Luke Foley harassed a female journalist.

New South Wales State Opposition leader Luke Foley. Picture: AAP

Acting ABC managing director David Anderson has promised a thorough investigation of “a serious allegation” raised in NSW parliament regarding the alleged harassment of a female ABC journalist by NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley.

At a Senate estimates committee hearing last night, Mr Anderson was grilled on why the ABC had not investigated and acted on the allegation after it was first raised with the ABC’s media team by The Australian on May 2. The journalist had referred The Australian to the ABC’s media unit.

Mr Anderson said he was told there had been no formal sexual harassment claim or complaint made at the ABC.

He said he had learnt of the ­alleged incident only last week when NSW Corrective Services Minister David Elliott used parliamentary privilege to accuse Mr Foley of harassing a journalist at a function.

“We do take it seriously and we will investigate,” Mr Anderson told the committee. Quoting from an article alluding to the incident in The Australian from May 26, Tasmanian Liberal senator Eric Abetz said that at the time neither the journalist nor the ABC nor Mr Foley had commented.

Senator Abetz said it seemed “passing strange” that none of the parties at the time denied the incident took place, instead choosing not to comment. Senator Abetz: “Will that investigation include speaking to other colleagues of the victim she might have raised (concerns) with?”

“Yes, we’ll definitely be looking at this,” Mr Anderson responded.

Senator Abetz: “Can you promise this matter will be investigated?”

Mr Anderson: “I’ll give you an undertaking we’ll investigate.”

In earlier evidence last night, Mr Anderson said he had asked for a “full brief” on the matter and that he expected the brief to say the staff member concerned had been “supported”.

Senator Abetz asked Mr Anderson to confirm that the journalist who was the subject of the allegation was “moved on from state parliament” after the incident.

“It appears the victim was moved on, to the potential protection of the perpetrator,” Senator Abetz said.

Mr Anderson said he would take that question on notice. The incident is alleged to have occurred at the Martin Place Bar in late 2016 after the parliamentary press gallery Christmas party.

Mr Foley has denied the allegation and threatened to sue Mr ­Elliott if he repeats the comments outside the chamber without the protection of parliamentary ­privilege.

Mr Foley also threatened to sue The Australian in May when the newspaper put the allegation to him.

The ABC journalist concerned has never pressed a formal complaint but has told colleagues she is upset at her treatment.

Another ABC journalist believed to have been a witness to the alleged incident on the night has also declined to comment.