Minns had been under pressure to take decisive action against Secord,after complaints against the former frontbench MP emerged the same day as thedamning Broderick report exposed a toxic workplace culture in NSW Parliament House.
However,after standing down from the frontbench,Secord decided to announce his retirement,apologising for offending anyone and admitting he could be “too blunt and too direct”.
Mihailuk has rejected the anonymous complaints against her,which were canvassed inThe Australian, while Minns said it was not appropriate for him to intervene.
“I have had a conversation with the member for Bankstown in relation to that,” Minns said. “Obviously,these are anonymous allegations at this point,it’s very difficult for us to adjudicate.”
Mihailuk,who is one of three western Sydney MPs caught in a bitter preselection tussle following boundary redistributions,said the allegations were politically motivated. “It doesn’t surprise me that on the eve of my preselection suddenly complaints which have never been brought to my attention are being selectively leaked to the media,” she said.
“I completely reject the assertions. And I’ll be fighting to win preselection and represent my community in Parliament. Nothing will distract me from working for the people of Bankstown.”
Minns said the Labor Party had appointed former sex discrimination commissioner Susan Halliday as an independent arbiter to rule on bullying complaints and workplace issues.