Gladys Berejiklian 'absolutely disgusted' at report Michael Johnsen sent lewd texts to sex worker


Gladys Berejiklian says she’s ‘absolutely disgusted’ at reports suspended MP sent lewd texts to sex worker during question time

Gladys Berejiklian says she’s disgusted by a report that a coalition colleague offered a woman money to have sex with him at NSW Parliament.

The NSW premier was asked about an ABC report that NSW National Party MP Michael Johnsen offered a sex worker $1000 to come to parliament for sex and sent the woman lewd text messages and an obscene video while he was sitting in the parliamentary chamber.

The report comes a week after the Upper Hunter MP went on leave and moved to the crossbench after denying allegations he raped the same woman at the Blue Mountains in 2019.

Gladys Berejiklian says she's disgusted by a report that a coalition colleague offered a woman money to have sex with him at NSW Parliament

Gladys Berejiklian says she’s disgusted by a report that a coalition colleague offered a woman money to have sex with him at NSW Parliament

The woman told the ABC she exchanged hundreds of messages with Mr Johnsen after responding to his online advertisement for sex in August, 2019.

Ms Berejiklian was asked about the latest report on Sydney radio 2GB on Tuesday.

‘If that is correct I am absolutely disgusted,’ she said.

‘For many women in public life when you know the challenges that exist – when colleagues or former colleagues do that type of thing- it is just beyond disgusting,’ she said.

Ms Berejiklian said police were investigating the rape allegation ‘so I can’t really say more than that’.

‘I want all workplaces and not just in politics, in all spheres of life, to be respectful to women and to treat them equally,’ she said.

She wanted people to acknowledge the subconscious bias that exists against women – ‘especially those in leadership positions’.

‘My job and the job of others is to lead by example and to call out what is unacceptable behaviour’ she said.

The allegations against Mr Johnsen are the latest in a string of accusations engulfing the Liberal Party, particularly in federal parliament, since former staffer Brittany Higgins said she was raped in a senior government minister’s office in March last year.

The NSW premier was asked about an ABC report that NSW National Party MP Michael Johnsen offered a sex worker $1000 to come to parliament for sex and sent the woman lewd text messages and an obscene video while he was sitting in the parliamentary chamber

The NSW premier was asked about an ABC report that NSW National Party MP Michael Johnsen offered a sex worker $1000 to come to parliament for sex and sent the woman lewd text messages and an obscene video while he was sitting in the parliamentary chamber

Advertisement

Leave a Reply