The Australian parliament was shaken by even more sexual abuse charges on Monday, when a whistleblower leaked an image of a senior government official masturbating at a legislator’s table.
The disgusting video – obtained by The Australian newspaper and Channel Ten – led to the immediate dismissal of the unidentified aide, but came along with other images of at least four government officials who exchanged images of sexual acts in Parliament for years.
One of the clips showed a pixelated man exposing his penis with a copy of the House of Parliament rules book just behind him, while another showed a man pointing at a liberal MP’s table before masturbating on it. “The fact that she is a female parliamentarian only adds to the disgrace that she is,” said the whistleblower, adding that he received so many explicit clips that he “became immune” to them.
The whistleblower – who was identified only as Tom in the report – admitted to having participated in part of the misconduct, but said he had decided it was the right time to expose what is happening. In addition to sharing the clips, he revealed that government officials and even members of parliament had sex in a small room in Parliament that should be reserved for prayer or mediation.
“I can probably say that there is very little meditation or prayer in that room,” said Tom, admitting that he used the room for sex. The whistleblower added: “Now is the time to speak up, now is the time to put that on record. It is a culture in which men think they can do whatever they want. “
After the report was broadcast, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison described the videos as “disgusting and unhealthy” and said those involved showed “impressive disrespect” for everyone working in parliament. The PM also confirmed that the man who filmed himself masturbating at a PM’s desk was fired “immediately”.
The report follows an even more serious allegation of sexual abuse by reason of parliament. Last month, Morrison ordered a review of the toxic culture of the workplace in Parliament after a former government press officer, Brittany Higgins, 26, claimed she had been raped by one of her colleagues in a ministerial office. in March 2019. Federal police are investigating Higgins’ allegations.
Labor Internal Affairs spokeswoman Kristina Keneally said The Australian that filming is even more disgusting because of its context. “Coming in the wake of Brittany Higgins’ courageous revelations, the behavior of these male employees, with their depraved mockery at the table of a female Coalition MP as a prop in their obscene videos, is reprehensible,” she said.
Tom, the whistleblower, said he is aware that publicizing the allegations will put him in the firing line, but that he is tired of seeing the “privileged boys club” get away with repeated misconduct – and things need to change. “It is necessary to start with the removal of this toxic, powerful and privileged boys club that does what it wants, when it wants, where it wants,” he said.