Ex-ALP chief welcomes exoneration on harassment claims

A former ALP state president has welcomed the end to a year-long legal battle that has cleared him of claims he sexually harassed a colleague seven years ago.

FORMER ALP state president Ben McGregor has welcomed the end to a year-long legal battle that has cleared him of claims he sexually harassed a colleague seven years ago.

Mr McGregor quit as a Labor candidate for Clark at last year’s state election after allegations were made public that he sent a colleague an inappropriate text message seven years before.

He stepped down as Labor Party state president after the allegations were made public and was subsequently removed from the role after intervention from the party’s national office.

Me McGregor strongly denied the allegations and took Federal Court action to clear his name.

“These court proceedings have now resolved.

The complainant has confirmed I never sexually harassed her,” he said.

“She has apologised to me and my family for the hurt that has occurred.

“Today is a day of relief and recognition for me, for my family, and for my friends, all whom have been dragged through this mess.

“Nearly 12 months ago on the eve of the state election, my life was turned upside down when a confidential complaint about a text message I sent seven years ago to a friend was leaked to the media.

BEN MCGREGOR

“The complaint was leaked prior to me being able to respond and prior to any formal process beginning.”

Mr McGregor released a statutory declaration from the complainant.

“At no point in time has Mr McGregor sexually harassed me,” she said.

“At the time of the incident he was a friend and he apologised for the texts he sent and their attachments, which I acknowledged and accepted.

The woman said she acknowledged the damage the claims had caused Mr McGregor who she described as “an upstanding and professional individual” who always treated women with respect and decency”.

She said she regretted that what she had regarded as a confidential matter had been made public.

BEN MCGREGOR

Mr McGregor says he was cleared of any wrongdoing by a subsequent ALP internal inquiry but the damage to his political career and reputation had already been done.

“The strategic purpose of the leaking of the statutory declaration was to cause maximum damage to me as part of a campaign to hurt me and my political ambitions and achieve the leakers’ desired political outcomes”, he said.

“It achieved that purpose.”

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