ABC journalist releases explosive statement about Luke Foley

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Her statement says: “This is a position I never wanted to be in and a statement I never intended to make.

“But I think the time has come for my voice to be heard.”

Me badr said the “escalation of the public debate, including in state and federal parliament despite her expressed wish to neither comment nor complain, and the likelihood of ongoing media and political interest” prompted her to speak.

Her statement says: “This is what happened on that night.

“The party moved from Parliament House to Martin Place Bar after a number of hours. Later in the evening, Luke Foley approached a group of people, including me, to say goodnight. He stood next to me.

“He put his hand through a gap in the back of my dress and inside my underpants. He rested his hand on my bad.

“I completely froze.”

She said Sean Nicholls, who was then the state political editor at the Sydney Morning Herald and is now an ABC journalist, witnessed the incident.

Ms badr said Mr Foley then left the bar and she discussed what had happened with Mr Nicholls.

“As shaken as I was, I decided not to take any action and asked Sean to keep the events in the strictest confidence. He has honoured that,” her statement says.

She said there were several reasons for not wanting to make a complaint.

“It is clear to me that a woman who is the subject of such behaviour is often the person who suffers once a complaint is made,” Ms badr said.

“I cherished my position as a state political reporter and feared that would be lost.

“I also feared the negative impact the publicity could have on me personally and on my young family.”

“This impact is now being felt profoundly.”

Mr Foley’s caucus colleagues have maintained that they would not move on him as long as he continued to deny the allegation and Ms badr did not make a statement.

The public broadcaster launched an investigation after Liberal senator Eric Abetz asked ABC acting managing director David Anderson about the allegations in a Senate estimates hearing.

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