Politics

Disgraced Nationals MP Michael Johnsen quits Parliament

Mar 31, 2021

Nationals MP Michael Johnsen has resigned. Source: Getty.

Nationals MP Michael Johnsen has quit New South Wales Parliament a day after Deputy Premier of NSW and NSW leader of the Nationals John Barilaro called for the disgraced MP to step away.

ABC News reported on Tuesday that Johnsen, who’s accused of raping a sex worker in the Blue Mountains in September 2019, offered the woman $1,000 to attend state Parliament for sex that same year. He also allegedly sent the woman a string of lewd text messages and a video of himself performing a lewd act while at work.

Just last week, Johnsen was forced to out himself as the man accused of raping the sex worker, in an attempt to clear his name. As a result, he stepped aside from his position as a parliamentary secretary and moved to the cross bench last week. He has not been charged by police.

In a statement around noon on Wednesday, The New Daily reported that Johnsen said, “I vehemently deny this allegation, which is devastating, unfair and unfounded. And has significantly impacted on my mental health and overall wellbeing. I am an imperfect human and I own that.

“A serious allegation has been made against me via the process of parliamentary privilege and the immediate leaking of my name to the media associating it with the speech – an action with clear political intent by that member of parliament and her support team to politically and personally damage me outside of the due process already underway. I will fight the allegation and expect to have my name cleared, as it just didn’t happen.”

Barilaro confirmed Johnsen’s resignation from Parliament around noon on Wednesday. He shared a statement on his official Twitter page.

“Last week I sought the resignation of the Member for Upper Hunter Michael Johnsen as Parliamentary Secretary, removed him from the Nationals and Coalition Party Rooms and he was suspended from the National Party in light of serious allegations and an active police investigation,” it read.

“Yesterday, following further reports, I told Mr Johnsen his position as a Member of Parliament was untenable and called for his resignation. Today I welcome Mr Johnsen’s resignation from the NSW Parliament. My message to the people of the Upper Hunter is I will always put integrity before politics, which is why I called for Mr Johnsen’s resignation.

“I want to say to the communities of the Upper Hunter that I am sorry, but please be assured the NSW Nationals’ focus has always been, and will always be, on delivering for the Upper Hunter and keeping our communities safe and secure.”

Statement on Michael Johnsen’s resignation from the NSW Parliament. #nswpol pic.twitter.com/8sh8Ru8vkI

— John Barilaro MP (@JohnBarilaroMP) March 31, 2021

It’s the latest sex scandal to rock the government since mid February. On Monday night last week, Channel 10 aired video footage that showed a Liberal staffer filming himself performing a lewd act on the desk of a female MP. The television network also aired claims that sex workers were brought into Parliament for MPs, and that employees regularly had sex in the building’s prayer room.

Last month, allegations surfaced that Attorney-General Christian Porter had been accused of a rape in the 1980s. Porter, who has denied the allegation, then took a leave of absence to address his mental health.

In mid-February, Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins alleged she was raped by a colleague in then-Defence Minister Linda Reynolds’ office in March 2019. Reynolds copped a severe backlash over her handling of the allegation and was forced to apologise.

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