Labor calls on Ben McGregor to resign, rejecting claims he had been cleared from sexual allegations

In a stunning development Labor has called on the party’s president to resign and has rejected claims that he had been cleared of sexual harassment allegations. LATEST >>

LABOR’s state secretary has rejected claims the party’s president has been cleared of sexual harassment allegations — and has called on him to resign while he pursued legal action.

Ben McGregor on Friday claimed he had been vindicated by an investigation which was called after he withdrew as Labor’s candidate for Clark at the state election.

But in a stunning development in the party’s long-running internal ructions, Labor State Secretary Stuart Benson said the complaint against Mr McGregor was outside Labor’s rules and had actually been withdrawn.

“It has been determined that the complaint does not fall within the terms of the Tasmanian Labor policy,” he said.

“More importantly, the complainant has now determined that she does not want to pursue her complaint under the party policy.”

Mr McGregor quit the Labor ticket for the state seat of Clark in April after a complaint from a former colleague that he sent a text message containing an offensive image six years ago.

Mr Benson said it was time for Mr McGregor to quit as state president.

“As Mr McGregor has confirmed he wishes to pursue legal action, I do not think it appropriate to do that in the position of party president,” Mr Benson said.

“I have asked him to resign as party president. I cannot see a tenable and working situation where the party president says he is now taking steps to address this issue legally — whether that be against individual members or senior members of the Labor Party.

He revealed state parliamentary Labor party has also passed a unanimous motion of no confidence in Mr McGregor.

“Given those matters, it is my view that the appropriate course of action for Mr McGregor to undertake is to resign from his position as party president.”

Earlier on Friday, Mr McGregor said an investigation by independent employment barrister Andrew See had found he had done nothing wrong.

“The executive summary of the report has been provided to both me and the complainant,” he said.

“Dr See’s investigation made no findings of wrongdoing or sexual harassment against me.

“This has been a very difficult time for me and my family. I am relieved that the investigation has concluded and that it has cleared me of any wrongdoing.”

Mr McGregor said he intended to return to his role as the state president of the ALP, from which he had stepped down during the investigation.

“The failure to keep the complaint confidential until an independent investigation had determined its merit has caused profound hurt and damage to me and my family and

damaged my reputation and my career,” he said.

“I am taking steps to address this legally.

“Given the legal process on foot, I will not be making any further comments at this time.”

It was unclear who Mr McGregor is taking legal action against.

Labor has had a difficult year — with an election loss, a bitter fight over preselections, five changes in leadership including temporary leaders, three shadow ministerial line-ups, the resignation of MLC Bastian Seidel and claims of sexual harassment made against former leader David O’Byrne.

Mr O’Byrne has denied the allegations and the investigation cleared him of breaching Labor party rules.

Liberal MP Felix Ellis said the ongoing infighting within the party was not a good reflection on the Opposition leader.

“When she became leader, Ms White said it was “a full stop”, the backgrounding and infighting would end, and she’d unite Labor,” he said.

“It hasn’t stopped – it’s got even worse.”

Labor’s annual state conference is scheduled to be held next month.

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