Federal Labor MP Emma Husar has been accused of using government funds to pay for groceries and toilet paper, it has been revealed, as investigations continue into her dysfunctional office and allegations of workplace bullying.
Senior Labor adviser Cameron Sinclair was called into the embattled Australian politician’s office between May and June last year under the directive of restructuring staff and cleaning up the ‘mess’.
Among the problems facing Ms Husar’s office were exceptionally high staff turnover and allegations of workplace bullying, The Daily Telegraph reports.
Federal Labor MP Emma Husar (pictured) has been accused of using government funds to pay for groceries and toilet paper, as investigations continue into her dysfunctional office and allegations of workplace bullying
Ms Husar has faced multiple accusations that she treated her staff like slaves – as punctuated by a damning photo of her staffer picking up dog poo for her (pictured)
More recently, Ms Husar has faced multiple accusations that she treated her staff like slaves – as punctuated by a damning photo of her staffer picking up dog poo for her – as well as claims that she used parliamentary entitlements for personal expenses.
Senior Labor adviser Cameron Sinclair (pictured) was called into Ms Husar’s office last year to clean up the ‘mess’
Ms Husar reportedly used the taxpayer-funded Comcar service to meet with her divorce lawyer and spent government funds on household items such as toilet paper – despite the fact her electorate office didn’t have a toilet, The Australian reported.
Her former staffer, Blake Mooney, is understood to have confronted Ms Husar over her unscrupulous use of parliamentary entitlements and raised concerns over her irresponsible use of funds.
These accusations ultimately spurred the current internal Labor Party inquiry into Ms Husar’s conduct.
Barrister Jack Whelan, who is leading the inquiry, has reportedly spoken to 20 witnesses regarding Ms Husar’s behaviour in office.
It is understood that Mr Whelan’s investigation will likely take into consideration the purchase of the items, as well as the allegations of bullying and the claims that Ms Husar forced staff to perform household chores.
Bill Shorten (pictured) insisted that he was unaware of any problems in Ms Husar’s office, despite the fact that Mr Sinclair, a senior operative in the Labor party, had been drafted in to solve them
Ms Husar denied the allegations of workplace bullying and harassment levelled against her, and on Tuesday announced that she was taking personal leave in the face of an internal Labor party investigation
One former staff member has alleged that Ms Husar called employees ‘c***s’ and ‘f***wits’, while others accused her of making staff babysit her children during and outside work hours.
Ms Husar denied the allegations of workplace bullying and harassment levelled against her, and on Tuesday announced that she was taking personal leave in the face of the investigation.
‘I’m a single mum and my first priority is the safety and wellbeing of my children,’ she said in her statement.
‘The best thing for me and my family right now is for us to be out of the spotlight so I can access support.’
‘I’m a single mum and my first priority is the safety and wellbeing of my children,’ she said in her statement. ‘The best thing for me and my family right now is for us to be out of the spotlight so I can access support’
Labor party leader Bill Shorten insisted that he was unaware of any problems in Ms Husar’s office, despite the fact that Mr Sinclair, a senior operative in the Labor party, had been drafted in to solve them.
‘Obviously in the heat of the investigation, I’ll treat the investigation process with respect, and anyone who has any complaints or concerns,’ Mr Shorten said.
On the subject of the staffer who was photographed picking up Ms Husar’s dog’s excrement from the footpath, Mr Shorten noted that Ms Husar joined parliament as ‘a disability advocate because… her son was diagnosed with autism.
‘As I understand, before people go looking down at the issue of the dog, this is her support dog for her son.’
On the subject of the staffer who was photographed picking up the dog’s excrement from the footpath, Mr Shorten claimed it was a support dog for Ms Husar’s son, who was diagnosed with autism