This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

The woman who tried to make a confidential sexual harassment complaint against Barnaby Joyce has criticised the National party for mishandling the matter, saying she was assured by party officials that her complaint would remain private.

Catherine Marriott has released a public statement saying she would be “disappointed” to learn her complaint was being used for “political advantage”.

Marriott said she had asked the WA National party how to make a formal complaint against Joyce, and she had engaged a legal representative to act on her behalf to ensure the complaint process was adhered to “in a professional and articulate manner”.

But after she lodged her complaint on 20 February with the National party federal executive, it was leaked to the media a few days later.

She said the complaint was made not only to address the incident against her but to speak up against inappropriate behaviour “by people in powerful positions”.

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“Suggestions to the contrary are hurtful, incorrect and the very reason why I hesitated to come forward at the time of the incident,” she said in a statement on Wednesday.

“I am disappointed if my complaint along with my efforts to have this confidentially investigated are being used for political advantage and my integrity, as a result, questioned.



“I never wanted this issue made public. I specifically requested a private and confidential investigation.



“My complaint was made to the National party in a manner that was meant to protect the privacy of the person involved and I was assured confidentiality.”

Earlier on Wednesday, Fairfax Media reported an internal review by the WA Nationals had found Marriott’s complaint – which was the final straw for Joyce, forcing him to resign from cabinet on 22 February – was compromised by political interference, leading to her identity being exposed and denying Joyce a fair hearing.

It found there had been extensive contact between Nationals MPs and Marriott, and that contact may have extended to some Nationals MPs “proof-reading” her formal complaint, making some MPs look like “co-conspirators” in a push to bring down Joyce, according to Fairfax.

The review also reportedly found the actions of some Nationals MPs – and the decision by WA Nationals leader, Mia Davies, who is a friend of Marriott’s, to publicly call on Joyce to quit – were “political” judgments designed to separate the WA Nationals from federal dysfunction, according to Fairfax Media.

Joyce has denied all allegations against him. He has cited Marriott’s allegation as the final straw that led him to resign after 16 days of scandal over his affair with his now-pregnant former staffer Vikki Campion.

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Marriott released her statement on Wednesday afternoon, hours after Fairfax published the story about the internal review.

Marriott said: “Speculation on this issue by people who are unaware of the facts is impacting my right to a fair and due process.

“The additional stress of having to go through this publicly and with people’s judgment is the exact reason people don’t come forward.

“I lodged my complaint on 20 February with the National party federal executive, [which] informed me that to progress my complaint it must be referred to the NSW National party executive.

“After seeking clarity as to the NSW complaint process, on 3 March I gave my consent for the matter to be referred to the NSW division to investigate and determine my complaint.

“Following the release of my name, I hired a media adviser. Dealing with dozens of media calls every day was something that I was not prepared for, or had the availability to manage, while trying to conduct myself professionally at work.

“The WA National party played no role whatsoever in my personal decision to make and progress this complaint, nor me engaging professional support to help me through this issue.”

With Australian Associated Press