Current:Home > StocksAustralian senator interrupts colleague on floor of parliament to accuse him of sexual assault-InfoLens
Australian senator interrupts colleague on floor of parliament to accuse him of sexual assault
View Date:2024-12-23 16:23:25
Australian lawmaker Lidia Thorpe accused fellow Senator David Van of sexual assault on Wednesday, before being forced to withdraw her remarks under threat of parliamentary sanction. Thorpe repeated her allegations Thursday, saying she had been afraid to walk through Australia's halls of power.
"What I experienced was being followed, aggressively propositioned and inappropriately touched," Thorpe said, according to the AFP news agency. "I know there are others that have experienced similar things and have not come forward in the interests of their careers."
AFP quoted her as saying Australia's parliament was "not a safe place" for women to work.
Van denied the allegations and called for an investigation. His conservative Liberal political party expelled him on Thursday.
Thorpe's remarks came after Van made a speech in parliament in relation to another high-profile case of alleged sexual assault in Australian politics involving a former political aide, Brittany Higgins, who said a fellow staffer had raped her in a cabinet minister's office in 2019.
"I'm feeling really uncomfortable when a perpetrator is speaking about violence," Thorpe said, interrupting Van. "This person harassed me, sexually assaulted me, and the prime minister had to remove him from his office, and to have him talking about this today is an absolute disgrace."
Higgins said she was dissuaded from reporting the alleged rape by Australia's then-conservative-led government, which she claimed had treated her allegations as a political problem. Her case sparked national protests, a high profile trial and a number of investigations that found there was a persistent culture of bullying and sexual harassment in Australian politics.
Following Thorpe's allegations, former Liberal senator Amanda Stoker said in a statement that Van had touched her inappropriately at a party in 2020, the Reuters news agency reported. The leader of Van's Liberal Party, Peter Dutton, told the media that a third allegation had also been made.
- In:
- Sexual Harassment
- Australia
- Sexual Assault
- Sexual Misconduct
Haley Ott is an international reporter for CBS News based in London.
TwitterveryGood! (7422)
Related
- Craig Melvin replacing Hoda Kotb as 'Today' show co-anchor with Savannah Guthrie
- Jon Bon Jovi says he's 'not in contact' with Richie Sambora despite upcoming documentary on band
- Another QB domino falls as Chicago Bears trade Justin Fields to Pittsburgh Steelers
- Vanessa Hudgens's Latest Pregnancy Style Shows She Is Ready for Spring
- Sister Wives' Janelle Brown Details to Meri Why She Can't Trust Ex Kody and His Sole Wife Robyn
- Stock market today: Asian stocks gain ahead of US and Japan rate decisions
- Usher, Fantasia Barrino and 'The Color Purple' win top honors at 2024 NAACP Image Awards
- Russia polling stations vandalized as election sure to grant Vladimir Putin a new 6-year term begins
- New Yorkers vent their feelings over the election and the Knicks via subway tunnel sticky notes
- Mauricio Umansky Shares Dating Update Amid Separation From Kyle Richards
Ranking
- Spirit Airlines cancels release of Q3 financial results as debt restructuring talks heat up
- One Way Back: Christine Blasey Ford on speaking out, death threats, and life after the Kavanaugh hearings
- Get a $128 Free People Sweater for $49, 50% Off COSRX Pimple Patches, $394 Off an Apple iPad & More Deals
- Save 54% On This Keurig Machine That Makes Hot and Iced Coffee With Ease
- Steelers' Mike Tomlin shuts down Jayden Daniels Lamar comparison: 'That's Mr. Jackson'
- Steelers' aggressive quarterback moves provide jolt without breaking bank
- NBA star Stephen Curry discusses how his new children's book inspires confidence: Find the courage
- Lucky Day: Jerome Bettis Jr. follows in father's footsteps, verbally commits to Notre Dame
Recommendation
-
What does the top five look like and other questions facing the College Football Playoff committee
-
7th Heaven Stars Have a Heartwarming Cast Reunion at '90s Con
-
A warming island’s mice are breeding out of control and eating seabirds. An extermination is planned
-
Kevin Harlan loses his mind as confetti falls prematurely during Atlantic-10 title game
-
South Carolina does not set a date for the next execution after requests for a holiday pause
-
Celine Dion opens up about stiff person syndrome diagnosis following Grammys appearance
-
Ohio governor declares emergency after severe storms that killed 3
-
Book excerpt: James by Percival Everett