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Luke Foley won’t seek re-election amid a badual harbadment scandal, leaving the NSW Labor caucus to choose who to lead the party to the state election in four months.
Mr Foley on Thursday resigned after ABC journalist Ashleigh badr issued a statement alleging he put his hand through the back of her dress and groped her at a 2016 Christmas party. He has denied the allegation.
Deputy leader Michael Daley on Friday emerged as the frontrunner to replace Mr Foley but within hours 39-year-old Chris Minns, Labor Member for Kogarah, also threw his hat in the ring.
Both men distanced themselves from Mr Foley, who they suggested should leave the party altogether.
Mr Foley announced shortly after he would not seek re-endorsement for the western Sydney seat of Auburn, which he has held since 2015, and will exit politics at the March 2019 election.
The Labor caucus is expected to meet on Saturday afternoon to decide on a new leader, until at least that date.
Federal Labor frontbencher Richard Marles weighed in on Saturday morning, labelling the circumstances a “very sad” state of affairs.
“I note that it wasn’t her (Ms badr’s) preference to be put in this situation, first of all, but in terms of this becoming as public as it has been, I very much feel for her today,” he told the ABC.
“I think, for all concerned, and particularly for the NSW Labor Party in a political context going forward, they need to be choosing their new leader this afternoon and moving on.”
Mr Marles said Ms badr’s decision to make a statement was “brave”, while NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Friday described it as “courageous”.
Ms Berejiklian added she was disappointed in her own minister David Elliott for originally airing the allegations under parliamentary privilege despite not having the consent of the female journalist.
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