Senator David Van has left the liberal party following multiple allegations of sexual misconduct.
Last Wednesday, Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe accused Van of sexual assault and harassment during the Senator’s speech on the Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkin’s report.
Senator Thorpe later withdrew comments, giving a fuller statement the next day that she was “inappropriately touched” by an unnamed person.
Senator Van denies the accusations, but late last week Liberal Party Leader Peter Dutton asked Senator Van to leave the Liberal party room after more allegations came to light.
One of the allegations came from former Liberal Senator Amanda Stoker who says Senator Van touched her inappropriately during a function in 2020.
On Friday, Mr Dutton told Sydney’s 2GB Radio it was in “everyone’s best interest” if Senator Van resigned from parliament.
On Saturday, in an email sent to the Victorian Liberal Party’s President Greg Mirabella, Senator Van’s resignation letter denied any wrongdoing.
“Given the Liberal party’s wholesale disregard for due process and natural justice in relation to allegations made against me, I write to resign my membership effective immediately.
“I cannot remain a member of a party that tramples upon the very premise on which our justice system is predicated.
This is a travesty of justice and I reiterate that I deny the allegations made against me.”
Senator Van will see out his term as an Independent which ends in 2025.
