Today’s Barnaby-Adjacent Scandal Involves An Ex-Staffer Dacking A Colleague

A former adviser to ex-Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce was sacked for dacking a male colleague at the party’s Christmas bash, only to be rehired by another Nationals MP.

The Daily Telegraph reports Simon Chamberlain, who worked for the one-time Deputy Prime Minister, dropped the shorts of Brett Chant, a media adviser to MP Nigel Scullion at the Nationals’ lifesaver-themed event.

The incident, which has been described as incredibly unacceptable, reportedly took place in front of many other Nationals colleagues. Chant placed a complaint with the party’s whip George Christensen, which resulted in Chamberlain’s departure from his post.

But MP Mark Coulton says he then used Chamberlain to fill a job vacancy in his electorate office, claiming he was unaware “he had been put off” over the incident. Coulton added Chamberlain’s reemployment had nothing to do with Joyce.

As of Tuesday, Chamberlain began work in the office of NSW Nationals MP Kevin Anderson.

While the Australian Human Rights Commission does not specifically address the unwanted removal of clothes under its sexual harassment site, it does state “unwelcome sexual behaviour, which makes a person feel offended, humiliated or intimidated” could constitute sexual harassment.

Chamberlain did not respond to The Daily Telegraph’s request for comment, while Chant said he believed the matter was “dealt with back at that time.”

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