The ABC journalist at the centre of sexual harassment allegations against NSW Labor leader Luke Foley has detailed her claims in public for the first time.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Ashleigh Raper claimed she had been groped by Mr Foley at a Christmas party in 2016.
‘He stood next to me. He put his hand through a gap in the back of my dress and inside my underpants. He rested his hand on my buttocks. I completely froze,’ she said.
Ms Raper had been at an official Christmas function at NSW Parliament House for state political reporters, politicians and their staff, which moved on to Martin Place Bar later in the night.
She claims Mr Foley had approached a group of people she was with to say goodnight when he groped her, leaving her ‘shaken’.
ABC reporter Ashleigh Raper said she was groped on the buttocks through a gap in her dress by NSW Labor Leader Luke Foley in 2016
Ms Raper said the incident was witnessed by a senior political journalist, but at her request he kept the matter to himself.
Ms Raper said there were ‘a number of reasons’ she kept her silence, one being that she believed it would be her that wore the public backlash more than Mr Foley.
‘It is clear to me that a woman who is the subject of such behaviour is often the person who suffers once a complaint is made,’ she said in her statement.
‘I cherished my position as a state political reporter and feared that would be lost.
‘I also feared the negative impact the publicity could have on me personally and on my young family.
‘This impact is now being felt profoundly.’
The incident came to light in state parliament last month, when Corrections Minister David Elliott mentioned it under parliamentary privilege.
Mr Foley’s alleged actions became public information last month, when Corrections Minister David Elliott mentioned it under parliamentary privilege
Ms Raper said Mr Foley called her on Sunday to apologise, telling her: ‘I’m not a philanderer, I’m not a groper, I’m just a drunk idiot’.
He told her he would resign as leader of the NSW Labor Party either on Monday or Wednesday, not wanting to be accused of ‘burying the story’ by resigning on the day of the Melbourne Cup.
However, he called back on Tuesday to backtrack, saying he won’t be resigning based on legal advice.
Ms Raper said she wanted her decision to come forward as the woman behind the allegations to mark the end of the saga, that she wanted to move on with her life.
‘There are three things I want to come from my decision to make this statement,’ she concluded.
‘First, women should be able to go about their professional lives and socialise without being subject to this sort of behaviour.
‘And I want it to stop.
‘Second, situations like mine should not be discussed in parliament for the sake of political point scoring.
‘And I want it to stop.
‘Third, I want to get on with my life.’
The incident is alleged to have happened after attendees of a Christmas party for politicians, their staff and journalists held at NSW Parliament House moved on to Martin Place Bar (pictured)