Tasmanian Labor who says he supports women has remained silent on David O’Byrne’s allegations

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Labor says it supports women, but has been blatantly silent on the allegations against one of its own, at least publicly.

Tasmanian leader David O’Byrne apologized this week to a woman who claimed he had texted her inappropriately and kissed her twice without her consent while working for him ago more than ten years.

He did not acknowledge the woman’s claim that, as the then boss, he called her to a meeting and gave her a verbal warning about her performance after she told him to move back.

And it is understood that the party did not even acknowledge the woman’s complaint filed early last month until Mr O’Byrne’s leadership was strengthened.

For a party of solidarity, and which has been outspoken about the Liberal Party’s treatment of women’s allegations nationally and in Tasmania, it should be noted that no one within the party has made a public statement in favor of the woman after her complaint was reported by ABC this week.

Kristie Johnston spoke in favor of the complainant. (

ABC News: Luke Bowden

)

Instead, there was a behind-the-scenes “track record” against the woman and her family and what appeared to be attempts to have the complaint withdrawn.

The complainant belongs to the right faction of the party, as opposed to the dominant left of the party. People have questioned the timing of its filing.

This is addressed in the complaint. In fact, there are 15 points in the 15-page document that deal with exactly that.

Failure to see the complaint hasn’t stopped Labor from labeling the allegations as motivated solely by factional rivalry.

Never mind that a second woman also wrote to the party’s national secretary, Paul Erickson, asking him to intervene quickly to resolve what she claims to be broader issues of sexual harassment and a silencing culture. survivors and protect the perpetrators.

Not so long ago, acting Tasmanian Labor leader Anita Dow slammed the Tasmanian liberals for dismissing allegations against disgraced Braddon candidate Adam Brooks accused of misleading several women in error after meeting them online using fake names.

Although Mr Brooks denied the allegations, Ms Dow criticized Prime Minister Peter Gutwein’s “dismal failure to see, hear or believe women”.

After threatening ABC with legal action, Mr O’Byrne actually apologized for some aspects of the women’s complaint against him and thanked her for coming forward.

That hasn’t stopped some members of the movement from reaching out to Green MPs and independent Kristie Johnston, who have all come out in favor of the complainant and accused them of covering up the Liberal Party and politicizing the issue.

The woman who filed the second separate Tasmanian Labor Party culture complaint summed it up: ‘Survivors know the cost of speaking out is greater than the benefit’.

It would appear that the message sent to women in the Labor Party this week is solidarity forever, or less.

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