Harassment claims are 'lies': Husar

Labor MP Emma Husar says claims she sexually harassed and bullied staff and exposed herself to a fellow MP are 'absolute lies' designed to ruin her career.

Labor Member for Lindsay Emma Husar

Emma Husar has denied claims she sexually harassed and bullied staff. (AAP)

Besieged Labor MP Emma Husar has rejected claims she sexually harassed staff and exposed herself to another federal MP as "absolute lies" aimed at ruining her career.

A Labor investigation into Ms Husar's behaviour reportedly received an allegation she flashed Labor frontbencher Jason Clare three times in his office while he was on the floor playing with his young son.

"This is categorically untrue," Mr Clare said.

Ms Husar also denies the allegation, accusing a former staff member of trying to ruin her career.

"This smear is completely and utterly untrue, unfair and hurtful beyond belief. 100 per cent false," the western Sydney MP tweeted in response.

"These are absolute lies that have been fabricated by [the ex-staffer], who's working with his father to leak against me and ruin my reputation.

"I have done my best to cooperate with the investigation and clear my name, but it's clear these people will stop at nothing to destroy me."

Details of a letter from the Labor internal investigation sent to Ms Husar on May 16, containing a brief of staff allegations about bullying and sexual harassment, were published by news website BuzzFeed on Thursday.

Lawyer John Whelan spoke to more than 20 former staff as part of his investigation before sending the allegations to Ms Husar.

"(The staff member) alleged that he was sitting opposite you and that on three occasions you spread your legs, revealing that you were not wearing any underwear. (Staff member) felt that your conduct was deliberate, proactive and targeted towards Mr Clare,"

They include claims of sexual harassment, diversion of Labor funds into her personal bank account, bullying, aggressive behaviour, and using taxpayer money to hire a nanny who couldn't work a computer.

NSW Labor said continued public speculation about Mr Whelan's investigation was a significant concern.

"It is a cause of some delay to the process and is serving to escalate tensions," the party said in a statement.

Labor expects Mr Whelan to provide a briefing about the investigation in coming weeks.

A spokesman for Bill Shorten told AAP the Labor leader hadn't seen the letter referred to and nor was he aware of its existence before today.

NSW Labor informed the opposition leader of the independent investigation on July 18.

Labor frontbencher Clare O'Neil said Ms Husar is "a really good person".

"The things that are being said and alleged here don't seem consistent with the person that I know," she told Sky News.

Workplace Minister Craig Laundy said Ms Husar's staff should have gone to the Fair Work Ombudsman.

"The staff who are involved with this obviously have no confidence in the process," he told Sky News.

Ms Husar holds the western Sydney seat of Lindsay on a margin of 1.1 per cent.


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Source: AAP


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