‘Down but Never Out’: Dutton Rallies Party As Senator Van Resigns

Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on March 14, 2023. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)

Senator David Van has resigned from the Liberal Party after he was expelled from the party room due to multiple allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards female colleagues.

In a letter to the president of the Victorian Liberal Party, Van maintained his innocence against the accusations and announced his resignation from the party.

“Given the Liberal Party’s wholesale disregard for due process and natural justice in relation to allegations made against me, I write to resign my membership effective immediately,” he said.

“I cannot remain a member of a party that tramples upon the very premise on which our justice system is predicated. This is a travesty of justice and I reiterate that I deny the allegations against me.

“I resign also acknowledging the cruel irony of doing so amidst public discourse about the weaponisation of allegations and the role of the rule of law which has at its centre the presumption of innocence.”

The resignation letter follows an announcement by the Liberal Party on June 16 that it suspended all organisational resources and support for Van following more allegations of sexual misconduct.

Under parliamentary privilege on June 14, Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe accused Senator Van of harassment and sexual assault, which he denied.

“Nothing that she has alleged about me is truthful,” Van said. “There should be and must be an investigation into these outrageous claims so they can be proved to be false.”

Then on June 15, former Liberal Senator Amanda Stoker’s allegations were released in a media statement. Stoker accused Van of touching her inappropriately back in 2020.

A third allegation by an unnamed individual who was allegedly sexually assaulted by Senator Van was also brought to Dutton’s attention.

Following the allegations, Dutton moved swiftly to remove Senator Van from the party room and urged that he resign from parliament.

“The allegations that have been brought to my attention, I’ve referred to the parliamentary workplace authority in the parliament,” Dutton told 2GB radio station’s Rad Hadley Morning Show.

“I think it’s in everyone’s best interests that he resign from the parliament, and I hope he’s able to do that sooner than later and seek the help that he needs, I think that would be an appropriate next step.

“I don’t tolerate the sexual assault of women,” Dutton said.

Urgent Meeting with Liberal Party

Liberal party members from across the country attended an urgent meeting in Canberra on June 17 for the annual federal council meeting.

Dutton spoke to state leaders, shadow ministers, and senior office bearers on the Albanese government’s handling of national security, housing affordability, and the current cost-of-living crisis hitting Australians.

“In the cycle of politics, as we all know, parties will be down but they’re never out,” Dutton said reported AAP.

“We’ve been here before and we came back and I promise you, we will come back again.”

During the meeting, Dutton proposed a policy to allow first home buyers to use their superannuation for a deposit, which was announced by former prime minister Scott Morrison before the last election.

“If young people can’t accumulate capital, they’re unlikely to have much fondness for capitalism,” Dutton said, as the policy would be an example to gain votes from younger voters.

“By extension, if people can’t realise their aspiration to buy and own their own home, they’re unlikely to have much faith in liberalism and so they look elsewhere.

“As the pencil in their hand hovers over a coalition candidate, we want the sound of jingling house keys to resonate in their minds.”

Women in Australian Politics

Thorpe has remarked that she will not pursue legal action against Senator Van, but said her focus is to make the parliament a safe place for everyone, “at this moment it is not a safe place for women.”

“I call on the government to immediately increase the number of security guards in the building and cameras in the corridors and to consult women who work here on what measures can and should be taken,” she said.

The Australian Government introduced a grant on March 23 to boost gender equality and diversity in Australian politics.

The “Women in Public Office” grant opportunity will be funded through the Women’s Leadership and Development Program which will provide $5 million (US$3.4 million) over five years to Women for Election Australia to equip and encourage more women to enter politics.

Women for Election Australia is an organisation committed to increasing the number of women in public offices through training events, workshops, and networking opportunities; more than 4,000 women are expected to benefit from the program.

“This funding will help enable a new generation of women across the country to enter public office, including those who might have never considered it as a career option,” said the minister for women, Senator Kathy Gallagher.

Thorpe’s statement on June 15, said that “on average, one woman a week is killed in this country.”

“One out of every five women in Australia will be sexually assaulted or raped in their lifetime, and, if you are not white, those statistics are even higher.”

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released Personal Safety rates on March 16 for a 12-month prevalence rate between 2016 and 2021-22.

Statistics show sexual harassment rate for women decreased to 12.6 percent in 2021-22 from 17.3 percent in 2016.

It is estimated that 22 percent or 2.2 million women in Australia aged 18 years or over have experienced sexual violence since the age of 15, with a majority experiencing sexual assault.

Nina Nguyen contributed to this report.