'Not safe' for women: Australian senator claims sexual assault in parliament

In a tearful Senate address, Ms. Thorpe said she had been subjected to “sexual comments”, cornered in a stairwell, “inappropriately touched” and “propositioned” by “powerful men”

An Australian lawmaker on June 15 alleged that she was sexually "assaulted" by a fellow senator in Parliament House, stating the building was "not a safe place" for women to work.

In a tearful Senate address, the Independent legislator said she had been subjected to "sexual comments", cornered in a stairwell, "inappropriately touched" and "propositioned" by "powerful men". Parliament, she said, "is not a safe place for women".

On June 14, she accused a fellow senator of "sexually assaulting" her, before being forced to withdraw the remark under threat of parliamentary sanction.

But on June 15, she restated the core of her allegations against conservative David Van, who has strenuously denied the claims. A visibly emotional Mr. Van responded in parliament, describing the allegations as "scandalous" and "concocted" before calling for an investigation.

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With hands trembling as he read from a printed statement, Mr. Van accused her of "bringing the Senate into disrepute" and "cowering under the umbrella of parliamentary privilege".

Mr. Van's Liberal Party suspended him on June 15 over the claims, which have upended Canberra politics and rekindled accusations that Australia's crucible of democracy is also a bastion of sexism and misogyny.