An ABC journalist has confirmed an incident involving NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley at a Christmas party in 2016.

Key points: Ashleigh Raper said she never intended to make the statement or complaint

Ashleigh Raper said she never intended to make the statement or complaint She said: "A woman who is the subject of such behaviour is often the person who suffers once a complaint is made."

She said: "A woman who is the subject of such behaviour is often the person who suffers once a complaint is made." Mr Foley has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing

In a statement, reporter Ashleigh Raper said Mr Foley placed his hand down the back of her dress and inside her underpants.

Ms Raper said she did not wish to make a complaint, but was forced to make a statement after the incident was raised under parliamentary privilege in both Sydney and Canberra.

Ashleigh Raper is an experienced journalist working in the broadcaster's Sydney newsroom. ( ABC News )

A separate statement from the ABC said the corporation considered it extremely unfortunate that media and public pressure had been applied to Ms Raper and caused her to speak publicly on an issue she did not wish to pursue or to comment on.

Speaking at a press conference where he resigned as Labor leader, Mr Foley, who had previously described the claims as "lies", maintained the allegations were false.

Ms Raper said there were three things she wanted from her decision to release a statement.

"First, women should be able to go about their professional lives and socialise without being subject to this sort of behaviour. And I want it to stop," she said.

"Second, situations like mine should not be discussed in Parliament for the sake of political point scoring.

"And I want it to stop. Third, I want to get on with my life."

Foley promised to resign

Ms Raper said Mr Foley called her last Sunday and apologised, saying he was remorseful and had wanted to talk about the matter many times over the past two years.

She said he told her that while he had been drunk on the night and couldn't remember all of the details, he knew he had done something to offend her.

Ms Raper said Mr Foley told her: "I'm not a philanderer, I'm not a groper, I'm just a drunk idiot."

She said Mr Foley told her he would resign either Monday this week or Wednesday, but could not do so on Tuesday as he would be accused of "burying the story" on Melbourne Cup Day.

Ms Raper said Mr Foley called her again on Tuesday and said he had been given legal advice to not resign, and intended to follow it.

As recently as this morning, Mr Foley insisted on ABC Radio Sydney he was confident he would be Opposition Leader at the time of next year's election.

"Yes, and premier beyond it," Mr Foley said.

He said he dealt with the allegations "comprehensively" during a press conference last month.

Former Sydney Morning Herald state political editor, now ABC journalist Sean Nicholls, witnessed the alleged incident. ( AAP Image: Dan Himbrechts )

"There was a misuse of parliamentary privilege here by the Liberals," Mr Foley said.

"I'm not going to dwell on it."

'I completely froze': Raper

Ms Raper said the incident was witnessed by fellow political journalist Sean Nicholls.

"I completely froze," she said.

Ms Raper requested Mr Nicholls keep the matter in the strictest confidence, which he did.

Her decision not to make a complaint was partially due to the risk of negative publicity.

"It is clear to me that a woman who is the subject of such behaviour is often the person who suffers once a complaint is made," Ms Raper said in her statement.

She said she also feared the impact of negativity on her personally and on her young family.

"This impact is now being felt profoundly."

Corrections Minister David Elliott raised the matter using parliamentary privilege last month.

Ms Raper said he had done so without her involvement or consent.

Mr Elliott's office said he would not be commenting.

'Shocking and disturbing'

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the allegations were a matter for the Labor party.

"I'm not here to act as a judge and jury on these sorts of things, but I must say I found those allegations very shocking and disturbing," he said.

Senior Labor MPs have told the ABC they were "shocked and appalled" by Ms Raper's account.

But the MP also suggested Mr Foley "will not go easily", suggesting "it's not his track record to not put up a fight".

One female Labor MP said she cried when she read Ms Raper's statement.

"When I read that, my heart dropped and it made my skin crawl," she said.



Statement from Ashleigh Raper

This is a position I never wanted to be in and a statement I never intended to make. But I think the time has come for my voice to be heard, for the following reasons: The escalation of the public debate, including in state and federal parliament, despite my expressed wish to neither comment nor complain, and the likelihood of ongoing media and political interest. Two recent phone conversations with the Leader of the New South Wales Opposition Luke Foley. To set the record straight. In November 2016 I attended an official Christmas function at New South Wales Parliament House for state political reporters, politicians and their staff. This is what happened on that night. The party moved from Parliament House to Martin Place Bar after a number of hours. Later in the evening, Luke Foley approached a group of people, including me, to say goodnight. He stood next to me. He put his hand through a gap in the back of my dress and inside my underpants. He rested his hand on my buttocks. I completely froze. This was witnessed by Sean Nicholls, who was then the state political editor at the Sydney Morning Herald and is now an ABC journalist. Mr Foley then left the bar. Sean and I discussed what happened. As shaken as I was, I decided not to take any action and asked Sean to keep the events in the strictest confidence. He has honoured that. I chose not to make a complaint for a number of reasons. It is clear to me that a woman who is the subject of such behaviour is often the person who suffers once a complaint is made. I cherished my position as a state political reporter and feared that would be lost. I also feared the negative impact the publicity could have on me personally and on my young family. This impact is now being felt profoundly. When a reporter contacted me earlier this year after hearing about the incident, I informed ABC news management about Mr Foley's actions. I told them I didn't wish to make a complaint or for any further action to be taken. They respected my request for privacy and have offered me nothing but their absolute care and support. David Elliott raised the matter in the New South Wales Parliament last month, putting the incident in the public domain. The matter then became a state and federal political issue and resulted in intense media attention. This occurred without my involvement or consent. Last Sunday (4 November) Luke Foley called me on my mobile phone and we had a conversation that lasted 19 minutes. He said he was sorry and that he was full of remorse for his behaviour towards me at the Press Gallery Christmas function in November 2016. He told me that he had wanted to talk to me about that night on many occasions over the past two years because, while he was drunk and couldn't remember all the details of the night, he knew he did something to offend me. He apologised again and told me, "I'm not a philanderer, I'm not a groper, I'm just a drunk idiot". He said he would be resigning as the leader of the New South Wales Labor Party on either the next day (Monday, 5 November) or Wednesday (7 November). He said he couldn't resign on the Tuesday because it was Melbourne Cup Day and he didn't want to be accused of burying the story. On Tuesday (6 November) Mr Foley called me again. He repeated his apology and told me he owed me "a lot of contrition". He informed me he'd received legal advice not to resign as Opposition Leader. He indicated he intended to follow that advice. There are three things I want to come from my decision to make this statement. First, women should be able to go about their professional lives and socialise without being subject to this sort of behaviour. And I want it to stop. Second, situations like mine should not be discussed in parliament for the sake of political point scoring. And I want it to stop. Third, I want to get on with my life. I do not wish to make any further comment.

Statement from ABC: