‘Devastated’ MP Emma Husar claims she’s victim of ‘political stitch-up’

Labor MP Emma Husar has broken her silence to slam a stream of allegations against her, claiming she’s fallen victim to a “political stitch-up” which is aiming to destroy her reputation.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, the New South Wales MP said the claims against her have proved devastating for her career, and she now fears she’ll never recover from them – but still wishes to clear her name.

Husar is facing a string of accusations against her as it was recently revealed she is being investigated over claims of alleged workplace bullying and harassment. Barrister Jack Whelan is leading the internal NSW Labor inquiry which has gathered statements from 20 former staffers. 

Now she has claimed the allegations only came out after she dismissed a staffer for poor performance, who she claims also has support from members of the party’s right faction that have always opposed her. The former staffer has denied the claims against him.

Revealing why she chose to speak out now, Husar said the internal Labor investigation had been compromised by a series of leaks to the media, and she was left with no choice but to defend herself.

She told the publication that the allegations were part of  a political “stitch-up” being pursued by a former NSW Labor minister and other former staff members. 

Read more: Labor MP Emma Husar ‘attended pop music concert on taxpayer-funded trip’.

“The coverage of this has been nothing short of devastating professionally and reputationally. I’m not sure I will ever recover. But I am determined to clear my name,” she added to Fairfax Media in the written statement.

Addressing the allegations directly, she said: “I reject them absolutely.”

She has now threatened legal action against two media organisations which published claims she had been sexually inappropriate in the presence of a former staff member. Husar categorically denied the allegations at the time.

The MP tweeted: “This smear is completely and utterly untrue, unfair and hurtful beyond belief. 100 per cent false.”

I have done my best to cooperate with the investigation and clear my name, but it’s clear these people will stop at nothing to destroy me.

— I’m just Emma 👑 (@emma_husar) August 2, 2018

She added: “I have done my best to cooperate with the investigation and clear my name, but it’s clear these people will stop at nothing to destroy me.”

Read more: Emma Husar denies claims she flashed Basic Instinct crotch move at staffer

It comes after Aussie commentator Andrew Bolt revealed his worries over the allegations being made, and claimed on 2GB that Husar has been targeted by a campaign to get her out of Labor.

“There’s new allegations just about every single day against Emma Husar… to make her look like a man-eating, staff-berating, taxpayer rorting freeloader,” he told host Chris Smith.

“I can understand there are reasons to not like Emma Husar and the fact that she’s got allegations from some 20 former staff… shows something’s clearly wrong.

“But I’m getting a bit suspicious about how these leaks are coming out, what they’re actually alleging and how the media’s playing them up.”

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