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.
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.
