“It started with a male employee of the member for Newland making rude comments that were possibly intended as a joke, but then escalated into alarming and disturbing behaviour,” Wortley told parliament.
“The male staff member would say things like, ‘That perfume smells good, it’s given me a perfume stiffy’… then the inappropriate and unwanted touching started.”
He said that behaviour allegedly escalated, with inappropriate photos sent via Snapchat, before a complaint was made and the issue investigated.
But the unidentified woman complainant late yesterday broke her silence, saying in a statement issued by a Government colleague: “I am distraught this confidential matter was leaked and used by the Labor Party in a sick and twisted attempt to capitalise on a dark and traumatic period in my life.”
She said she had been robbed of her power as an alleged victim by “the airing of my complaint about the conduct of another staffer by the Labor Party in public”.
“My feelings have been sacrificed – and discarded – by those in the Labor Party who just want to further their own political ambitions,” she said.
“I am grateful to the many people of the Liberal Party who have supported and continue to support me through this, including Richard Harvey.”
As the matter escalated yesterday, a lawyer representing the unnamed staffer issued a statement saying his client “participated in an extensive investigation [and] the allegations were found not to be proven”.
“The investigation was intended to be confidential … the Government did no favours to my client in the investigation and he had no support from Dr Harvey or anyone else within Government,” the statement from lawyer Peter Pedler said.
“My client found it to be a very difficult and harrowing experience and his mental health was seriously adversely affected… it is appalling that confidence has been broken [and] that Russell Wortley is taking advantage of that breach of confidence for his own short-term political advantage.”
Treasurer Rob Lucas told parliament that “those issues were elevated as they should have been, they were investigated as they should have been” and that the alleged perpetrator’s contract “was not renewed whilst the investigation ensued”.
Harvey told “A complaint relating to a dispute between two staffers was raised and appropriately acted upon.”
-Tom Richardson
ATAGI releases new booster shot advice
Australians will need a COVID-19 booster within six months of their second shot to be considered “up to date” under newly released national guidelines, as the federal government moves to mandate third doses for aged care workers.
However, it will otherwise be up to states and territories to mandate boosters, with xjmtzywVictoria flagging it will require the third shot for incoming international travellers.
Under new advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation, people aged 16 and older who have received a booster will be considered “up to date” with their vaccines.
Those who got a second dose more than six months ago will be “overdue” under the updated definition to kick in by the end of March.
Boosters are recommended three months after a second vaccine.
Children under the age of 16 not yet eligible for boosters will still be considered up to date with two vaccine doses.
However, children aged five and older who have severely compromised immune systems will need a booster to remain up to date.
The federal government stressed ATAGI’s advice only covered the management of COVID-19 within Australia and not vaccine requirements for international arrivals.
International tourists must have two doses when the border reopens on February 21.
States will decide if they want to enforce booster mandates for travellers, as has been flagged by Victoria.
Police commissioner and state emergency coordinator Grant Stevens said he would take advice from chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier on how South Australia’s definition of fully vaccinated would change.
“From my point of view, if there are changes to what is required to be fully vaccinated, then we will obviously make changes to the directions that apply to vaccinations,” he told ABC Radio this morning.
He also said he hoped for national consistency in the definition.
“I think there have been lots of examples over the last couple of years where national consistency would have been hugely beneficial to the states and territories in helping people understand what their obligations are as they move from state to state,” he said.
“Ideally I’d like to see a national approach, but Professor Spurrier meets regularly with the other chief health officers and I’m sure that’s on their agenda.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison, premiers and chief ministers agreed during Thursday’s national cabinet meeting only aged care workers would be subject to a blanket booster mandate.
The sector has recorded more than 500 virus deaths this year.
The federal government has thrown a taskforce and bonus payments at the problem as workers request a 25 per cent pay rise.
Australia recorded 58 virus deaths on Thursday, including 24 in NSW, 16 in Victoria, eight in Queensland and seven in South Australia.
Festival Theatre reopens with grand new entrances
The Festival Theatre will officially reopen today after a seven-month closure, with the Adelaide Festival Centre unveiling two grand new entrances and celebrating the reinstatement of significant artworks including the .
The theatre has been closed during the construction of the new entrances, one of which opens onto the Festival Plaza while the other faces towards King William Road.
Adelaide Festival Centre CEO and artistic director Douglas Gautier said both are more accessible and visible from the redeveloped Plaza, which is also set to be officially re-opened in mid-March.
“Having great new entrances out onto King William Road and then the Plaza – which is in some ways how the centre was first envisaged, but better – is really a joy for us, a joy for the artists and, most importantly, it’s going to be a big plus for the public,” said Gautier.
The new entrances open to the public tonight for the first shows back in the 2000-seat Festival Theatre: Adelaide Symphony Orchestra’s sold-out concert and (on Sunday) the rock concert.
A number of significant artworks have also been reinstated inside and outside the theatre, including the which have now found a prominent new home in front of the King William Road entrance.
Leigh Sales to leave 7:30
High-profile journalist Leigh Sales has announced she will step down as presenter of the ABC’s flagship current affairs program, , after nearly 12 years in the role.
Sales, who informed viewers of her decision during last night’s program, will leave the role in June following this year’s federal election but will stay on with the ABC.
Appointed to the role in December 2010, or “five prime ministers ago”, Sales replaced long-time host Kerry O’Brien and has since gone on to anchor nine federal budgets, two federal elections and several major international news stories including the election of Donald Trump and the death of Nelson Mandela.
The two-time Walkley Award Winner first joined the ABC in Brisbane in 1995 as a junior reporter before going on to hold numerous senior roles with the national broadcaster, including NSW state political reporter, chief Washington correspondent and anchor.
“There’s nothing wrong other than I just feel a strong sense of it being time to pass the baton to the next runner in the race and to take a break,” she told viewers last night.
“The end of an election cycle feels like a good time to move on to something new at the ABC.”
An announcement from @leighsales. #abc730 pic.twitter.com/hy01mUsYyD
— abc730 (@abc730) February 10, 2022
ABC News acting director Gavin Fang said they wanted Sales to stay in the role but were excited to see what she would do next.
“7.30 plays a vital role in the service ABC News provides to audiences and the presenter job is one of the most important in the Australian media — and one of the toughest and most highly scrutinised,” he said.
“We’ll start thinking about a new presenter down the track. For the next few months we’ll just enjoy every moment of having Leigh on the program.”
SA Unions roll out election advertising ‘blitz’
The state’s peak trade union council has unveiled a new advertising campaign and “digital marketing blitz” which messages on jobs and health and targets key seats in the lead up to the state and federal elections.
SA Unions, the South Australian branch of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, this morning announced a new “Our Jobs, Our Health, Our Future” advertising campaign which will be rolled out across the state this election season.
The campaign calls for quality healthcare, secure jobs and a “strong plan” for South Australia’s future, according to SA Unions secretary Dale Beasley said.
“South Australia is an amazing place to live and work, with a vibrant culture and a wonderful community, but our future isn’t as bright as it should be,” he said.
“Over one third of South Australians are faced with income and job insecurity and our economy, narrowly based and fragile, is failing to provide the high quality and secure jobs we need for us and our children.
“We call on all political parties to develop a strong plan for our economy that delivers good jobs today and provides our children with the same opportunities we’ve been given.”
The Ambulance Employees Association and the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation have already launched TV campaigns targeting the Marshall Government and Morrison Government for investments in health and aged care.
Prince Charles has COVID-19 and recently met Queen
Prince Charles, who has tested positive for COVID-19 for a second time, recently met his mother Queen Elizabeth, but the 95-year-old monarch is not displaying any symptoms, a palace source says.
Charles, 73, the heir to the throne, pulled out of an event in the southwestern English town of Winchester on Thursday that was being held to mark the 70th anniversary of Elizabeth becoming Queen.
“This morning The Prince of Wales has tested positive for COVID-19 and is now self-isolating,” his office Clarence House said in a statement on Twitter.
There was no immediate comment on his condition but a Buckingham Palace source confirmed he had recently met his mother.
The monarch was not displaying any symptoms but the situation was being monitored, the source said.
The Queen confirmed in early 2021 she had received her first COVID-19 vaccine dose, encouraging others to also have the shot, but the palace has declined to confirm whether she has received subsequent shots, saying it does not comment on private medical matters.
Charles confirmed in December that both he and his wife Camilla had received their booster shots.
He had been at Windsor Castle, the Queen’s home to the west of London where she is currently staying, on Tuesday to hand out honours.
The health of the Queen, the world’s oldest and longest-reigning monarch, has been in the spotlight since she spent a night in hospital last October for an unspecified ailment and then was advised by her doctors to rest.
Redbacks on top against Victoria
South Australia holds the upper hand over a strong Victorian side at the midway point of their Sheffield Shield match in Adelaide, with a late Victorian batting collapse – and a newcomer’s century – giving the Redbacks a handy first innings lead.
Wickets in the final session saw Victoria throw away a bright start to their innings to be 5-151 at stumps on day two, still 215 runs behind the home side’s 366.
