Senator David Van of Victoria has been the subject of three complaints, and opposition leader Peter Dutton has demanded his resignation.
The federal Liberal leader told 2GB’s Ray Hadley on Friday that “resigning from parliament” is “in everyone’s interests.”
“I hope he can accomplish it as quickly as possible and get the assistance he requires. That, in my opinion, would be a good course of action, said Mr. Dutton.
The shocking sexual assault claims made by Lidia Thorpe in the Senate on Wednesday led to Senator Van’s expulsion from the Liberal Party’s party room on Thursday.
In a brief statement, Mr. Dutton said he had informed Senator Van that he “should no longer sit in the Liberal Party party room” and acknowledged that he had been made aware of more claims against the senator from Victoria.
“Some other allegations were brought to my attention… I investigated them as thoroughly as I could,” stated the Liberal leader.
“I spoke with Senator Van about them, and I decided that he should not sit in our party room, and I think that’s in his best interest as well as ours,” said Van.
The “very clear message” that “we just won’t tolerate behaviour that’s unacceptable or of poor character,” according to Mr. Dutton, was his goal.
“I don’t accept women being sexually assaulted. For many, many years, I have made it extremely apparent. And I firmly believe it; it’s not just a throwaway remark for me’, he told 2GB.
“I feel that I had to act, and I did, and I don’t regret doing that.”
In addition to Ms. Thorpe, former Queensland senator Amanda Stoker has also accused Senator Van of wrongdoing.
She expressed her regret that maintaining the confidentiality of the situation was “no longer tenable” in a statement posted on Thursday night.
In November 2020, a Queensland barrister claimed that Senator Van had “inappropriately touched” her in a Parliament House office.
He accomplished this by twice squeezing my bum. It was not coincidental, given its nature and frequency, according to her statement.
In a meeting the next day, the former senator claimed she had “raised the matter with Senator Van,” informing him that it was “unacceptable” and that it was not to happen again.
In her statement, Ms. Stoker added that the man “apologised and said he would never do it again.”
The discussion was also recorded, according to Ms. Stoker, who also told a “senior female colleague about the incident.”
On Friday morning earlier, Mr. Dutton acknowledged a third accusation against Mr. Van in addition to those made by Senator Thorpe and Ms. Stoker.
Hadley questioned the Opposition Leader about it, and he responded that he did not want to go into specifics since the person “doesn’t want to be identified.”
The employment authorities has been informed, and they will look into the claims. However, Mr. Dutton said, “these are charges of a kind comparable to those involving Senator Stoker, and it caused me significant anxiety.
“As I mentioned, I spoke with Senator Van, and I wasn’t pleased with his answer or his denial. He has been adamant in his denial, both to me and in remarks he has made in public, but I didn’t accept that. I decided to keep him out of the party room as a result.
Senator Van remains a member of the Victorian Liberal Party despite being kicked out of the federal Liberal Party’s party room.
Mr. Dutton claimed to have spoken with the leader of the Victorian division and a few of his colleagues in Victoria, but the state division was ultimately responsible for the decision to expel Mr. Van from the Liberal Party’s organisational wing.
Senator Van has refuted the accusations, telling SkyNews.com.au that he is astounded that his “good reputation” could be so seriously harmed without following the correct legal procedures.
In a statement, he added, “I am completely devastated by the events of the last few days and stunned that my good reputation can be so wantonly destroyed without due process or accountability.”
“I will wholeheartedly support any procedure Mr. Dutton suggests to settle these disputes as soon and fairly as feasible.
“While I recognise that there is considerable public interest in the allegations, I will not be making any further public statements on them until a thorough investigation of these claims has been completed.”
