The Queensland Labor MP Brittany Lauga has closed her local electorate office in Yeppoon because of threats from members of the public after she alleged she was the victim of drugging and sexual assault.
Lauga, the member for Keppel, announced on Tuesday afternoon that the electorate office in the coastal town would close until further notice “as a result of several threatening and offensive safety concerns from members of the public”.
Earlier this month, Lauga alleged in a Facebook post that she was drugged and sexually assaulted in Yeppoon in late April. A video purportedly of the alleged assault was circulated online, which she was alerted to after she had reported her experience to police.
In the week after the alleged assault, Lauga said she had been contacted by other women who may also have been drugged in Yeppoon on the same night.
On Tuesday, Lauga said in a Facebook post that the safety of her staff was her “number one priority”.
“As a result of several threatening and offensive safety concerns from members of the public, the Keppel Electorate Office is closed on the request of Queensland Parliamentary Services,” she wrote.
Office staff members would continue to work remotely and could be contacted on the usual phone number and email address, Lauga said.
“The Keppel Electorate Office staff are two hardworking and passionate women public servants; employed to provide support and advice to the public,” Lauga’s post continued.
“I will not tolerate threatening or harassing behaviour and as such, the office will remain closed until further notice.”
In the comment section below the post, Lauga wrote: “I’m the politician … people can have a go at me all they like … I’m used to it! But leave my staff, family and friends alone!”
She said she had reported the threats and harassment to the police and that there was “not only security footage, but also email and voicemail evidence”.
Fellow Labor MP Mark Bailey commented in support. “Appalling to hear your staff are being threatened, harrassed [sic] and abused Brittany Lauga,” Bailey wrote. “Please pass on my best wishes to them for all their hard work. People should always be treated with respect.”
Labor’s Nita Green also showed her support, saying: “Everyone deserves to be safe at work.”
On Wednesday, the police minister, Mark Ryan, criticised the unidentified people who made the threats as the Member for Keppel already faced a hard time due to her disclosure.
“No matter what your job is, you should be able to do that job without people attacking you, assaulting you, bullying you,” he told reporters.
Ryan said the community should instead act with decency and respect.
“I know people are entitled to their opinions and expressing their views on things but wouldn’t the world be a better place if respect and decency were the priority for everyone in the way they conducted themselves,” he said.
Queensland police have been approached for comment.
With additional reporting by Australian Associated Press.
• Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html
