Sydney
\nAn Australian cabinet minister has been removed from his post while allegations he was abusive toward a former staffer during their relationship are investigated, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced Thursday.
\nIt comes just days after a high-profile inquiry found that sexual harassment and bullying are rife in Australia\u2019s parliament, with both lawmakers and staff affected by the institution\u2019s \u201csexist\u201d culture.
\nFormer government staffer Rachelle Miller on Thursday accused Education and Youth Minister Alan Tudge of emotional and physical abuse during their relationship in 2017 — allegations he has denied.
\nMiller, who first publicly disclosed the consensual affair last year, told reporters in Canberra it was also an \u201cemotionally and on one occasion physically abusive relationship\u201d that was \u201cdefined by significant power imbalance\u201d.
\nShe described Tudge allegedly kicking her until she fell out of bed onto the floor after she answered a work call at about 4:00 am, saying he was \u201cfurious\u201d at losing sleep following a night of drinking together.
\n\u201cI felt someone kicking me on the side of my hip and leg, as I tried to sit up in bed. It was the minister,\u201d she said.
\nJust hours after Miller\u2019s statement to journalists, Morrison told parliament that Tudge had agreed to stand aside while the allegations are probed through an \u201cindependent and fair process\u201d.
\n\u201cGiven the seriousness of the claims made by Ms Miller, it\u2019s important these matters be resolved fairly and expeditiously,\u201d the prime minister said.
\n\u201cThis is the appropriate action for me to take under the ministerial standards. I note that Minister Tudge has welcomed this process.\u201d
\nTudge earlier denied the allegations, saying in a statement to local media that he \u201ccompletely and utterly\u201d rejected Miller\u2019s version of events.
\nThe working culture at Australia\u2019s parliament has been under increased scrutiny since parliamentary staffer Brittany Higgins alleged she was raped inside a minister\u2019s office in 2019 after a night out with conservative Liberal Party colleagues.
\nHer allegations — which are now before the court — fuelled nationwide demonstrations and demands for reform.
\nA subsequent government-backed report released Tuesday said just over half of the people currently working at parliament had experienced bullying, sexual harassment or actual or attempted sexual assault.
\nThe report made 28 recommendations in response, including a formal statement of acknowledgement by political leaders, targets to increase gender diversity and \u201ca proactive focus on safety and wellbeing\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Sydney An Australian cabinet minister has been removed from his post while allegations he was abusive toward a former staffer during their relationship are investigated, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced Thursday. It comes just days after a high-profile inquiry found that sexual harassment and bullying are rife in Australia\u2019s parliament, with both lawmakers and staff […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-230646","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n