The veteran New South Wales politician Walt Secord has resigned from his shadow ministry after charges that he mistreated parliamentary employees.
The prominent opposition police spokesperson says he has reviewed the results of an investigation into bullying and harassment in the New South Wales parliament and has requested Labor Leader Chris Minns to allow him to step down.
The long-awaited independent investigation by former sex discrimination commissioner Elizabeth Broderick revealed rampant sexual harassment and bullying in the New South Wales parliament, as well as many reports of sexual assault on the job.
After the report was issued on Friday, Mr. Secord was accused of bullying, and he apologized for his behavior in dealing with personnel.
I have requested the leader of the Labor Party in New South Wales, Chris Minns, to allow me to step down from the shadow ministry after extensive consideration and more than three decades of membership in the Labor Party. Monday, the MLC stated in a statement.
“Chris, I, and the NSW Labor Party have committed to embracing the Broderick review’s recommendations and working across party lines to make the NSW Parliament and NSW politics a workplace we can all be proud of.
I wholeheartedly endorse the Broderick Review and the improvements that it will hopefully bring about.
“However, my continued service in the shadow ministry at this time has become a diversion from these critical discoveries and the necessary task,” he stated.
I will make no other comments.
A former member of Mr. Secord’s staff told the ABC that the lawmaker would “use his stature and voice to push, berate, threaten, and humiliate people in order to get his way.”
Mr. Secord served as the shadow minister for the arts and heritage, police, counter-terrorism, and north coast.
Friday’s apologies recognized that he sometimes be “too forthright and direct in a fast-paced environment.”
Mr. Secord stated in a statement, “Especially in dealing with rigorous deadlines and very stressful events in a time-sensitive, high-pressure atmosphere.”
If any members of the legislative staff believe my behavior in the workplace was unprofessional, caused offense or distress, and was improper, I humbly apologize.
He pledged to “help mend the culture in the state legislature” and to rectify his “deficiencies.”
Sarah Mitchell, minister of education and deputy leader of the government in the Upper House, said that Mr. Minns shown a lack of leadership by failing to remove Mr. Secord from his duties.
Ms. Mitchell said, “I find it disheartening that Chris Minns did not take action and fire him.”
“On Friday, Mr. Secord acknowledged to terrible behavior, apologized, and said that he would work on it. However, it took several days for any action to be taken, and Mr. Secord chose to step away during that time.”