Labor on the hunt for a new leader as David O’Byrne quits amid harassment scandal

Labor’s David O’Byrne has quit as Labor leader after just two weeks in the job, but his decision to remain as an MP has been labelled “hypocritical”. READ HIS FULL STATEMENT >>

• O’Byrne’s position ‘untenable’ amid harassment investigation
• Speculation swirls around Labor leadership

LABOR leader David O’Byrne has announced he will quit after being accused of misconduct by a female colleague during his time in the union movement more than a decade ago.

Mr O’Byrne said he would hand in his resignation as leader at the next Parliamentary Labor Party caucus meeting, which was scheduled for Monday but is now expected on Wednesday.

He said he would remain in parliament, not take on shadow portfolios and would back whoever takes his place as leader.

“Ongoing speculation about this matter is not in the best interests of the Party,” he said in a statement issued at 3pm on Sunday.

“The focus of the Party needs to be on holding the Gutwein government to account and the current debate is a distraction from this central task.

“I have a lifelong commitment to the cause of Labor and my decision to resign from the leadership reflects this.

“I intend to remain in the Tasmanian House of Assembly as the member for Franklin.”

Mr O’Byrne was elected Labor leader on June 15.

David O’Byrne will step down as Tasmanian Labor leader on Monday. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

On Wednesday, after media reports, Mr O’Byrne admitted subjecting a young union colleague to an unsolicited kiss and text messages in 2007.

He said he would step down as leader until the outcome of an investigation.

“At the time of the reported events, I genuinely believed the kiss and the text exchanges to be consensual,” he said.

“However, I now understand that this was not the case.”

Mr O’Byrne said he had written to the complainant and offered an unreserved apology.

Labor now needs to find a leader as leading candidates rule themselves out.

Rebecca White has said she wants to focus on her new baby, Michelle O’Byrne is understood to not want the job, Shane Broad did not have sufficient support in the recent ballot and ambitious newcomer Dean Winter lacks parliamentary experience.

Former Labor leader Rebecca White says she is focused on family after the birth of her second child.

Acting leader Anita Dow appears most likely to hold on to the role in the short term.

Under Labor Party rules, decided after a series of damaging federal leadership challenges in the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd era, if there is more than one candidate, leadership roles are decided by a vote of both MPs and rank and file members.

Independent MP for Clark Kristie Johnston, who is close to the complainant, said Mr O’Byrne had not gone far enough.

“I remain firmly of the view that he needs to resign from Parliament, not just the leadership position,” she said.

“It is hypocritical of the Labor Party to consider that Ben McGregor was not a fit and proper person to even be a candidate but now allow David O’Byrne to remain as an elected member.”

Acting Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff said Mr O’Byrne had made the right decision.

“Recent events make it clear there are cultural issues in the Labor Party that need to be addressed, we hope they take this opportunity to do so,” she said.

“We hope Mr O’Byrne’s resignation will give some piece of mind to the complainant, who had the courage to speak out.

“We are thinking of her, and recognise recent events would have put her under significant pressure.

“We hope this outcome gives courage to other women who have been the victim of harassment in any workplace to speak up.”

DAVID O’BYRNE’S STATEMENT IN FULL:

“I will be tendering my resignation as Leader of the Tasmanian Parliamentary Labor Party at the next Caucus meeting.

“The allegations raised will be dealt with through the confidential process initiated by the State Secretary. I intend to respect the confidentiality of that process and I will make no further public comment on it.

“Ongoing speculation about this matter is not in the best interests of the Party. The focus of the Party needs to be on holding the Gutwein Government to account and the current debate is a distraction from this central task.

“I have a lifelong commitment to the cause of Labor and my decision to resign from the Leadership reflects this.

“I intend to remain in the Tasmanian House of Assembly as the member for Franklin. I will continue to represent the people of Franklin and to represent them to the best of my ability.

“I will neither seek nor accept any shadow portfolios and will give my strong support to a new Labor leadership team.”

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