Wild moment Lidia Thorpe accuses a Liberal senator of sexually assaulting her in a speech about Brittany Higgins’ leaked lyrics — and claimed the prime minister even had to move his office
- Lidia Thorpe accused David Van of harassment
- The emotional liberal senator strongly denied the allegations
Lidia Thorpe has sensationally accused Liberal Senator David Van of sexually assaulting her in a scathing attack on him under parliamentary privilege while giving a speech reflecting on the handling of the Brittany Higgins text leaks.
In extraordinary scenes in federal parliament on Wednesday, Senator Thorpe claimed the Victorian senator was “moved” from his office by the prime minister after she made a formal complaint about his conduct.
Senator Thorpe did not reveal when the alleged attack took place or even which prime minister allegedly acted on the claims, former prime minister Scott Morrison or current leader Anthony Albanese.
Mr Van was visibly shocked and vehemently denied Ms Thorpe’s allegations, insisting that ‘it just isn’t true’ – prompting Senator Thorpe to leave the Senate.
“I’ll wait outside while he talks,” she said.
Ms Thorpe made the allegations just before 3.30pm as Mr Van made a statement about the handling of Ms Higgins’ allegations of sexual abuse by MPs this week.
Mr Van vehemently denied the allegations on Wednesday, insisting that ‘it just isn’t true’, prompting Senator Thorpe to leave the Senate. Above with his partner Nerilee
Lidia Thorpe has sensationally accused Liberal Senator David Van of sexually harassing her in parliament, claiming he ‘threw him out of office’ after she complained
She stood up and said to the Senate under parliamentary privilege, “I just want to pass on that I feel really uncomfortable when a perpetrator talks about violence…”
“This person harassed me, sexually assaulted me and the Prime Minister should remove him from office.
And for him to talk about it today is an absolute disgrace! To the whole party.’
Senate Deputy Speaker Andrew McLachlan then asked Ms. Thorpe to retract the comments. Mrs. Thorpe refused to do so.
He then agreed, with the agreement of Senate Labor leader Penny Wong and Liberal leader Simon Birmingham, to take the matter to the Senate President.
Mrs. Thorpe was heard to say ‘please’.
Mr Van then said: ‘I reject that statement, that disgusting statement outright.
“It’s just a lie and I reject it.”
He was forced to retract the word “lie,” but doubled down on his denial. “It’s just not true.”
Mrs. Thorpe was joined outside by Labor Senator Jana Stewart while Mr. Van finished speaking, and the duo returned when he had finished.
Ms Thorpe made the claim like a bombshell as Mr Van made a statement about the handling of Brittany Higgins’ sex abuse allegations in parliament this week
Senate Opposition Leader Simon Birmingham approached Mr Van after the altercation, before both men left.
Daily Mail Australia has reached out to both Senators Thorpe and Van for comment.
The altercation came after an intense question hour focused primarily on Treasury Secretary Katy Gallagher.
Ms Gallagher said she had forgotten she had received an invitation to David Sharaz’s wedding as she was inundated with invitations to random events at that point in her career.
The Treasury Secretary also criticized leaked text messages in which Sharaz described her as a “boyfriend” of then-girlfriend, now-fiance Brittany Higgins.
‘May I start by saying that I am not responsible for how people describe their relationship with me,’ said the under fire cabinet minister during question time in the Senate on Wednesday.
Daily Mail Australia revealed last month that Ms Gallagher was invited to Mr Sharaz’s wedding to ex-wife Alexandra Craig in 2018. [she] heard it report’.
“I had to ask the people I worked with at the time, I think I was prime minister. I got a lot of invitations to a lot of things, some I could visit and some I couldn’t.
“The one I didn’t go to. It was refused.’