The Country Liberal Party says allegations of 'abuse' levelled in parliament against a senior staffer by outgoing Northern Territory senator Sam McMahon are not a party issue.
It is the first time the NT political party has offered a formal response to the senator's allegations against her former staffer, a CLP member who remains in a senior position within the party.
The allegations were made under parliamentary privilege during her valedictory speech in the Senate last week.
Ms McMahon quit the CLP earlier this year, alleging that several "serious" complaints she had raised with party management had been ignored and left unresolved.
In her speech, the senator also called for "cruel behaviour" to be eliminated from politics.
'We have taken some action'
On Wednesday, recently elected CLP president Fiona Darcy said that "some action" had been taken by the party, but would not be drawn on the nature of that action.
"These (allegations are from) a couple of years ago I think, and that's between her and her staff, it's not a CLP issue," she said.
"I don't know what Senator McMahon is doing with her staff, it's not for us to deal with a senator's office, that would be for Canberra to deal with that.
"I think it's between the staff, her staff and herself, not between us.
"This should've been investigated by her office, not by the CLP, as such."
The president said she believed it was not an issue that the staffer remains in the CLP.
"He's entitled to be a member of the CLP as much as Sam McMahon is," Ms Darcy said.
"I think we've listened quite fairly to what she's had to say."
The party president, who was elected in the weeks after Ms McMahon's resignation, said the allegations had been discussed by CLP management.
Politicians call for 'compassion' on allegations
Former CLP NT deputy leader turned independent Robyn Lambley said she was “shocked” to hear the allegations made by Ms McMahon in parliament, and said her former party should have done more, sooner.
“It’s not a good enough response,” she said.
“And I’m not sure why they haven’t responded appropriately.
"I think the appropriate response is to convey compassion and empathy to a woman in those circumstances, and I’m not sure why she hasn’t received it.”
Ms McMahon’s Nationals party room colleague Bridget McKenzie was in Alice Springs on Wednesday, where she was asked whether the CLP’s response to the allegations were good enough.
“I think that is absolutely a matter for the CLP, and they need to take any claims of bullying and harassment seriously,” she said.
The staffer at the centre of the allegations has said he would not comment at this stage.
