Anthony Albanese has grounds to go into federal parliament on Monday and demand answers from Peter Dutton about who knew about serious claims of sexual harassment and assault against Liberal senator David Van and whether they took any action to investigate.
The political outcome is simple. Dutton looks like Wile E. Coyote, his legs spinning in the air after running off a cliff. Dutton has not wasted time. He wants Van out of parliament. He says he reached this view after hearing Thorpe’s complaint, speaking to And the process within the parliament is yet to be set up to force any action when claims are made. There is a Parliamentary Workplace Support Service, but it remains a work in progress. Draft laws are yet to be finalised to give it more scope and clear the way for a more powerful watchdog to be known as the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission.