Luke Foley threatens to dish dirt on four NSW ministers in wake of harassment attacks

Luke Foley has threatened to “talk’’ about four NSW ministers if the government continues attacks on him over a sexual harassment allegation.

NSW Opposition leader Luke Foley.

NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley has threatened to dish the dirt on four ministers if the government continues attacks on him over a sexual harassment allegation.

In Question Time today Roads Minister Melinda Pavey said Mr Foley should stand aside from his job while an ABC investigation occurred into allegations he harassed a journalist — in the same way that Mr Foley demanded Opposition Wastewatch chair Hugh McDermott should stand aside while the Labor Party investigated claims against him earlier

this year. Mr McDermott was later cleared.

“He should stand aside while there’s an investigation into him,” Ms Pavey told parliament.

“He asked the member for Prospect to stand aside; he should do the same.”

Mr Foley then rose on a point of order and pointed forcefully at four ministers, saying personal attacks should be brought “by way of substantive motion” under the standing orders and “we welcome it to talk about you and you and you and you. Bring it on!”

Better Regulation Minister Matt Kean later told parliament that Mr Foley would do anything to keep his job, including threatening to sue members of the press gallery.

Mr Foley later interjected across the chamber after the debate: “You didn’t have the guts to go on with it.

“Don’t let fear hold you back Matt. We haven’t started on you yet.”

Earlier, Community Services Minister Pru Goward said Mr Foley would have to “consider his future” should an investigation by the ABC find grounds for allegations he harassed an ABC journalist.

“I worked for the ABC for 19 years and I was Australia’s sex discrimination commissioner and in my experience good organisations like the ABC conduct these sorts of reviews very carefully and very thoroughly and guarantee anonymity [of the victim],” Ms Goward told a press conference this afternoon.

Asked if Labor leader Luke Foley should stand aside pending the ABC investigation, as Mr Foley required his Wastewatch chair Hugh McDermott to do until a Labor Party investigation cleared him, Ms Goward said that could be considered.

“If the allegation is sustained there will need to be a consideration of that by the Labor Party and Mr Foley ... I think he will need to consider his future as a result of it,” Ms Goward said.

ABC Acting Managing Director David Anderson told a Senate estimates committee hearing on Tuesday night that the allegations against Mr Foley would be investigated by the ABC.

A journalist involved has declined to comment on the alleged incident which occurred at the Martin Place Bar in 2016 after the parliamentary press gallery Christmas party.

Corrective Services Minister David Elliott accused Mr Foley of harassing the journalist under parliamentary privilege last week.

The Australian isn’t suggesting Mr Foley engaged in wrong-doing, only that he is being investigated.