Australian Political Leader Replaced After Harassment Allegations Months From Election

Australian Political Leader Replaced After Harassment Allegations Months From Election
New South Wales opposition Labor Party leader Luke Foley attends a protest rally in Sydney on Sept. 19, 2017. Foley resigned on Nov. 8, 2018, after being accused of sexually harassing an ABC journalist. (William West/AFP/Getty Images)
Reuters
11/10/2018
Updated:
11/10/2018

A politician in Australia’s most populous state was replaced on Saturday, Nov. 10 after he resigned over alleged inappropriate behavior. Former New South Wales (NSW) state Labor party leader Luke Foley resigned on Nov. 8 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.

On Nov. 10, NSW Labor deputy leader Michael Daley defeated opposition water spokesman Chris Minns to win the vacant leadership in a caucus meeting in the 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.

By Alison Bevege