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Emma Husar Says ‘slut Shaming’ Ruined Her Political Career

Emma Husar says ‘slut shaming’ ruined her political career

Federal Labor backbencher Emma Husar says ‘slut shaming’ ruined her political career.

“Slut-shaming is the oldest trick in the book if you want to undermine a female,” she said.

“And it’s used all the time.”

Husar made the comments during an interview with Leigh Sales on the ABC’s 7.30 program last night.

“What brought my career in politics to an end was being slut-shamed so viciously, with no ability come back and stand up for myself,” she said.

Sharon Stone move

Former staffer Jeremy Anderson famously accused Husar of executing a Shane Stone move, made famous in the movie Basic Instinct.

She allegedly made the move while colleague Jason Clare played on the floor with his young daughter.

“It’s utter garbage.  Both Jason Clare and I have said that it didn’t happen,” she said.

The Labor Party subsequently commenced an investigation conducted by barrister John Whelan, who looked into 44 complaints about Husar.

Anderson made 20 of the complaints, and the rest came from anonymous staffers.

For example:

  • swearing at staff,
  • demanding excessive work hours,
  • bullying
  • and employing her nanny in her electorate office.

A small number of complaints substantiated

As a result of the investigation, Whelan found a small number of complaints relating to workplace behaviour substantiated.

His report concluded that Husar’s staff had been:

“subjected to unreasonable management including unreasonable communications, demands, practices and disciplinary methods”.

However, he did not find the allegation about the Sharon Stone move substantiated.

Husar told Leigh Sales she rejected the findings of the Whelan investigation, however, she did concede she could have handled staff matters differently.

“I am disappointed that they weren’t raised if they had issues at the time,” she said.

Additionally, Husar maintains she has been the victim of a personal vendetta.

“I think this was particularly aimed at me because I fired a member of staff who felt that he was entitled not to be fired,” she said.


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Unreasonable management action

Industrial advocate Miles Heffernan from Discrimination Claims has little sympathy for Husar.

“She belongs to a political party that claims to champion the rights of workers,” he said.

“The slut shaming is all a smoke screen.

“What really matters is the substantiated complaints involving her unacceptable treatment of staff.

“Unreasonable management action is grounds for an employee to make a WorkCover claim for psychological injury.

“Ms Husar has proven she does not have the right temperament to manage people, and furthermore, she clearly doesn’t have what it takes to handle the rough and tumble of federal politics.”


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