Australian political leader replaced after harassment allegations months from election

[rooster59]

Australian political leader replaced after harassment allegations months from election

By Alison Bevege

 

New South Wales (NSW) state Labor party leader Luke Foley reacts during a media conference in Sydney, Australia, November 8, 2018. AAP/Joel Carrett/via REUTERS

 

SYDNEY (Reuters) - The leader of the opposition in Australia's most populous state was replaced on Saturday after he resigned over a #MeToo row sparked by alleged inappropriate behaviour.

 

Former New South Wales (NSW) state Labor party leader Luke Foley resigned on Thursday after being accused of sexually harassing an ABC journalist, four months before a state election he had been in a position to win.

 

Foley denies the allegations and said he has hired lawyers to sue for defamation over the claims.

 

NSW Labor deputy leader Michael Daley defeated opposition water spokesman Chris Minns to win the vacant leadership in a caucus meeting on Saturday afternoon.

 

He promised to build his government on four pillars: investing in schools and hospitals, lowering the cost of living and lowering energy bills.

 

"We will make Sydney more livable, and stop the unfairness and overdevelopment in the planning system," he told reporters in Sydney.

 

Daley also said his party would re-task $2.2 billion earmarked by the state's conservative Liberal government to upgrade sporting stadiums to instead train young people for employment.

 

Daley will lead NSW Labor to the March 23 election in Australia's largest state, but despite Foley's resignation the scandal is likely to dent Labor's chance of winning power.

 

A ReachTel poll in September had Labor and the ruling conservative coalition running neck-and-neck in the state.

The NSW economy accounts for one-third of Australia's gross domestic product and at $400 billion is larger than the economies of Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-11-11

[scorecard]

Another OZ polie bites the dust.

 

Seems to me Australia is now a fine example of countries with many pollies not suitable and no up to the task / not capable to represent an electorate, debate in parliament etc., an don't have the desirable ethics. Seems to be quite trend.

[Old Croc]

I'm not decrying the MeToo movement, nor excusing bad behavior by anyone, but.....

This lady sat on (!) the drunken, xmas party, buttock fondling incident for several years, only to crap on this guy just before a major election in which he was a main player. (I had never heard of this character before and care little about who wins the election there)

 

Are people now using these accusations as a political tool?

Was the timing designed to derail a political party or about trying for a big payout to keep it under cover?

 

[mfd101]

3 hours ago, scorecard said:

Another OZ polie bites the dust.

 

Seems to me Australia is now a fine example of countries with many pollies not suitable and no up to the task / not capable to represent an electorate, debate in parliament etc., an don't have the desirable ethics. Seems to be quite trend.

And who elected them? The electors ... just like in UK or Usofa & every other modern liberal democracy.

[Mad mick]

[Odysseus123]

3 hours ago, scorecard said:

Another OZ polie bites the dust.

 

Seems to me Australia is now a fine example of countries with many pollies not suitable and no up to the task / not capable to represent an electorate, debate in parliament etc., an don't have the desirable ethics. Seems to be quite trend.

I prefer a good general myself.Purchased his position,totally non elected,answerable to no-one and covered in tawdry bling picked up from the local op-shop.

 

It seems that you agree with me..

[Mad mick]

7 minutes ago, Mad mick said:

 

[TPI]

1 hour ago, Mad mick said:

 

Brilliant! I hope that one day in the far far future Ozy voters will get a chance to vote for some honest politicians!!

[GreasyFingers]

58 minutes ago, TPI said:

Brilliant! I hope that one day in the far far future Ozy voters will get a chance to vote for some honest politicians!!

You are kidding yourself.