Allegations of sexual violence and abuse have dominated the conversation in parliaments around the country across the three short months of 2021. Yet resignations have been sparse as the Morrison government continues to support and advocate for the accused.
Here’s are some of the people who have stepped down or otherwise moved on since the reckoning began.
Andrew Laming: The Liberal MP stepped down from parliamentary roles but didn’t resign after three women came forward with allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct, including “upskirting”. One woman has lodged a complaint with police after Laming took a photo of her bending down to fill a fridge.
Michael Johnsen: The NSW Nationals MP resigned following allegations he raped a sex worker in NSW Parliament (which he vehemently denies).
Nathan Winn: Winn, a Liberal staffer, was fired this week for masturbating on a female MP’s desk four years ago. Winn and the man who leaked details of the video were controversially named in The Sydney Morning Herald on Monday.
Brittany Higgins’ alleged rapist: This staffer was fired for a “security breach” after allegedly raping Higgins in Parliament House in Canberra in 2019.
Andrew Hudgson: The Liberal staffer, a media adviser to Michael Sukkar, resigned shortly after being accused of making derogatory remarks about Tasmanian Greens leader Cassy O’Connor two years ago.
Linda Reynolds and Christian Porter: Despite Reynolds calling Higgins a “lying cow” and mishandling her rape complaint, and Porter being accused of rape (which he vehemently denies) the pair still hold prominent portfolios in cabinet. Reynolds, however, has been taken off the defence portfolio and Porter has been removed from his role of attorney-general after launching defamation action against the ABC.
Brittany Higgins: Higgins quit her job as a staffer in the government earlier this year shortly before going public with her rape claim.
David Sharaz: Higgins’ partner, who worked at a media monitoring firm seeking government contracts, resigned as he felt his work was no longer tenable. Both Higgins and Sharaz are currently unemployed.
Nicolle Flint: The Liberal MP has said she intends to quit politics after she recounted allegations of bullying and harassment.
Karen Andrews’ accuser: An unnamed senior Liberal adviser is currently on stress leave after allegedly experiencing bullying and harassment while working for Andrews. Andrews “strenuously rejects” any wrongdoing.
And remember: this all comes two-and-a-half years after former Liberal foreign minister Julie Bishop and former independent MP Julia Banks stepped back from their positions after making allegations of misconduct, bullying, discrimination and harassment.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault or violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au.
For anyone seeking help, Lifeline is on 13 11 14 and Beyond Blue is 1300 22 4636.
Morrison can’t afford to do the right thing and sack them when there’s only a one seat majority, plus it means they owe him for his quazzy protection, so hopes nit to be knifed as he did to Turnbull.
That is Smoko’s trilemma is a nutshell.
He can’t sack them or demand resignations (except for Senator Reynolds) without tiggering byelections he is sure to lose.
Yet standing by them, however obliquely, tarnishes him still (sic!) further.
Then there is the constant fear/certainty of new revelations.
Uneasy lies the head on the pillow in the Lodge.
If the rules hadn’t been changed after Turnbull’s knifing, Morrison would not be PM.
Also suggests, or implicit, that conservatives do not see any need for themselves to be answerable or change, but simply retain power at all costs.
However, part of this strategy is to constantly denigrate and demonise others, or anything, not conservative e.g. in the past women’s rights (not to be sexually assaulted), now Labor too or ‘whataboutery’, states on vaccines etc..
If the LNP and media supporters do not remove their blinkers, they may well be in for a big bad surprise that pierces their narcissistic bubble…..
Tip of the iceberg.
As one looks at the policies and the infliction of cruelty on far too many vulnerable people in the community, the rorting of public funds and lack of concern for those struggling as a result of natural disasters, then it is no surprise that those who make up the Government at individual levels would be such inadequate, frequently depraved and bullying types.
We have not lost anyone who matters.
Is there anyone in the Government that “matters” and worth saving?
I personally can not think of one government member who gives me a sense of trust, honesty, integrity, there to serve Australia and has no hidden agenda.
No I.
Anyone? Someone, somewhere must have something good to say about one, as Abraham pleased with JHWH before the destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah?