Australia PM marks start of election year with apologies
Globe News 2022-02-20 10:46:081179Thailand News TimesNewsCenter

Scott Morrison Photo:Xinhua
Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Tuesday apologized to a political staffer who said she was raped in a ministerial office, after a review found half of parliamentary staff had experienced harassment, bullying or sexual assault.The apology marked a rocky start to an election year for Morrison and came as anti-vaccination protesters gathered outside parliament and his conservative party faced ructions over a religious freedom bill.
An election must be held by May, leaving few parliament sitting days before the federal budget is delivered in March, which is likely to trigger the start of the official campaign.
As parliament sat for the first time in 2022 on Tuesday, a statement was read by the speaker apologizing for "an unacceptable history of workplace bullying, sexual harassment and sexual assault in parliamentary workplaces."
Brittany Higgins, who in 2021 went public with details of her alleged rape that sparked the review, watched from the public gallery as all party leaders pledged change.
"We are sorry, I am sorry to Miss Higgins for the terrible things that took place here," said Morrison, adding that a place that should have been safe "turned out to be a nightmare."
Morrison's personal integrity has been under attack with damaging leaks, including by Higgins, of historical text messages from state and Coalition partner leaders, including some labeling him a "liar."
Polls show Morrison has also been marked down by voters over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
Reuters
ก่อนหน้า:NZ police arrest, remove COVID-19 demonstrators
ถัดไป: NZ protest convoy jams streets near parliament
ถัดไป: NZ protest convoy jams streets near parliament
การอ่านที่เกี่ยวข้อง
- Three Dead and Injured in Northern Thailand Blast; Two Suspects Arrested
- China willing to offer assistance to tsunami-hit Tonga
- Makati to provide free swab tests
- Senior schools reopen in India’s Karnataka amid hijab ban protests
- Brazil’s deadly mudslides reflect neglect, climate change
- Rumors behind ‘China debt trap’: How Western and Indian conspiracists smear China-Sri Lanka cooperat
- Fukushima water review begins
- Online gambling ring busted in Nakhon Sawan
- NCRPO admits challenges in vetting vax cards amid 'no vax, no ride' enforcement
- UN appeals to support Palestinian refugees