This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/oct/24/luke-foley-denies-he-harassed-abc-journalist-as-broadcaster-promises-investigation
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Luke Foley threatens to dish dirt on ministers in mounting harassment row | Luke Foley threatens to dish dirt on ministers in mounting harassment row |
| (25 days later) | |
| The New South Wales opposition leader, Luke Foley, has threatened to dish dirt against several NSW ministers amid growing questions over whether he can survive allegations that he acted inappropriately towards a female ABC journalist at a bar after a press gallery Christmas party in 2016. | The New South Wales opposition leader, Luke Foley, has threatened to dish dirt against several NSW ministers amid growing questions over whether he can survive allegations that he acted inappropriately towards a female ABC journalist at a bar after a press gallery Christmas party in 2016. |
| Foley has strenuously denied the allegations. But Labor is now “watching cautiously” as the Coalition ramps up its attacks, raising the matter in federal Senate estimates this week after first raising it in the NSW parliament. | Foley has strenuously denied the allegations. But Labor is now “watching cautiously” as the Coalition ramps up its attacks, raising the matter in federal Senate estimates this week after first raising it in the NSW parliament. |
| Foley denied the incident took place and noted that no formal complaint had been made to the ABC by the journalist who was alleged to have been at the centre of the incident. | Foley denied the incident took place and noted that no formal complaint had been made to the ABC by the journalist who was alleged to have been at the centre of the incident. |
| Luke Foley denies he harassed ABC journalist as broadcaster promises investigation | |
| This was confirmed by the ABC’s acting managing director, David Anderson, in estimates. He has asked for a brief on the alleged incident after allegations were raised in NSW parliament last week. | This was confirmed by the ABC’s acting managing director, David Anderson, in estimates. He has asked for a brief on the alleged incident after allegations were raised in NSW parliament last week. |
| Under questioning by the federal Liberal senator Eric Abetz on Tuesday night, Anderson promised a thorough investigation of allegations. | Under questioning by the federal Liberal senator Eric Abetz on Tuesday night, Anderson promised a thorough investigation of allegations. |
| There have been calls for Foley to stand aside pending an outcome of the investigation. | There have been calls for Foley to stand aside pending an outcome of the investigation. |
| But in parliament on Tuesday, Foley threatened to dish dirt on at least four government politicians. | But in parliament on Tuesday, Foley threatened to dish dirt on at least four government politicians. |
| “We would welcome such a debate, but we would amend it to talk about you and you and you and you,” he yelled in parliament, pointing his finger at ministers one at a time. | “We would welcome such a debate, but we would amend it to talk about you and you and you and you,” he yelled in parliament, pointing his finger at ministers one at a time. |
| The alleged incident reportedly took place at the Martin Place Bar after the NSW press gallery Christmas party in 2016 and involved one of the ABC staff covering state politics. | The alleged incident reportedly took place at the Martin Place Bar after the NSW press gallery Christmas party in 2016 and involved one of the ABC staff covering state politics. |
| NSW will go to an election in March next year, and recent polls have indicated that the opposition is now neck and neck with the Berejiklian government, which has been dogged by a stream of news on infrastructure projects running late. | NSW will go to an election in March next year, and recent polls have indicated that the opposition is now neck and neck with the Berejiklian government, which has been dogged by a stream of news on infrastructure projects running late. |
| At the hearing, Anderson was questioned by Abetz over why the ABC had not investigated the alleged incident when it was raised with the ABC media team by a News Corp reporter on 2 May. | At the hearing, Anderson was questioned by Abetz over why the ABC had not investigated the alleged incident when it was raised with the ABC media team by a News Corp reporter on 2 May. |
| Anderson told Senate estimates that there had been no formal sexual harassment claim or complaint made at the ABC about the incident, and that he had only learned of the incident when it was raised in the NSW parliament last week. | Anderson told Senate estimates that there had been no formal sexual harassment claim or complaint made at the ABC about the incident, and that he had only learned of the incident when it was raised in the NSW parliament last week. |
| “We do take it seriously and we will investigate,” Anderson said. | “We do take it seriously and we will investigate,” Anderson said. |
| Abetz asked whether the investigation would include talking to the journalist’s colleagues about the alleged incident. | Abetz asked whether the investigation would include talking to the journalist’s colleagues about the alleged incident. |
| “Yes, we will definitely be looking at this,” Anderson replied. | “Yes, we will definitely be looking at this,” Anderson replied. |
| Abetz said it had appeared that the victim had been moved on, and asked Anderson to investigate. | Abetz said it had appeared that the victim had been moved on, and asked Anderson to investigate. |
| Anderson said he would take that on notice. | Anderson said he would take that on notice. |
| Last week the NSW corrections minister, David Elliott, put the allegations on the record using parliamentary privilege, telling the chamber Foley had “harassed an ABC journalist” after having “a little bit too much to drink at a party”. | Last week the NSW corrections minister, David Elliott, put the allegations on the record using parliamentary privilege, telling the chamber Foley had “harassed an ABC journalist” after having “a little bit too much to drink at a party”. |
| Foley has invited Elliott to step out of the “coward’s castle” and repeat his claim, branding them a smear by a government that is in trouble in the polls. | Foley has invited Elliott to step out of the “coward’s castle” and repeat his claim, branding them a smear by a government that is in trouble in the polls. |
| “The allegations are untrue and Mr Elliott made them under parliamentary privilege,” a spokesman for Foley said. “Were he to repeat them outside the parliament, Mr Foley will be forced to sue him.” | “The allegations are untrue and Mr Elliott made them under parliamentary privilege,” a spokesman for Foley said. “Were he to repeat them outside the parliament, Mr Foley will be forced to sue him.” |
| Allegations of a similar nature brought an abrupt end to the career of the former Liberal opposition leader John Brogden in 2005. Brogden resigned as leader and the next day tried to take his own life. He has since left politics and is the chairman of Lifeline. | Allegations of a similar nature brought an abrupt end to the career of the former Liberal opposition leader John Brogden in 2005. Brogden resigned as leader and the next day tried to take his own life. He has since left politics and is the chairman of Lifeline. |
| Luke Foley | Luke Foley |
| Australian Broadcasting Corporation | Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
| Australian media | Australian media |
| Labor party | Labor party |
| New South Wales politics | New South Wales politics |
| Coalition | Coalition |
| Australian politics | Australian politics |
| news | news |
| Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
| Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
| Share via Email | Share via Email |
| Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
| Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
| Share on Google+ | Share on Google+ |
| Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
| Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
| Reuse this content | Reuse this content |