Ben McGregor Withdraws as ALP Candidate for Clark

Statement – Labor Candidate for Clark, Ben McGregor, 7 April 2021

Recently I was formally endorsed by the Labor Party as the candidate for the seat of Clark in the 2021 State Election.

I put my hand up to run because I was sick and tired of the current situation and wanted to provide a voice to the issues dear to me; health, education and mental health.

I need to address a Complaint against me.

Over the past couple of days, reactionary elements within the Tasmanian Branch of the ALP have launched extraordinary attacks against progressive people in the Party in an attempt to further their personal political agendas and undermine the Labor Party during this crucial election.

A complaint has been made to the Labor Party by a person in relation to 2 text messages I sent seven years ago. Though it does not allege sexual misconduct or sexual harassment, its purpose is appallingly clear. The complaint seeks to pervert and weaponize the current justified public outrage at the treatment of women in this country for selfish, tawdry, political purposes.

The incident surrounds 2 text messages sent over 6 years ago that were part of a broader text conversation between a group of then friends that included banter to and from the person involved. The whole conversation was full of dark humour that was common within our conversations broadly.

At the time the person noted to myself during the conversation that she felt uncomfortable with a word I used. At the time I apologised via text and noted that I would not use that word again.

I then subsequently apologised in person the next chance I got and then again at a later time. This person has not complained about the text messages in the 6 years following.

Like most group of friends, we engaged in text message exchanges, sometimes of a coarse and vulgar nature. We joked and texted each other and had a banter that was accepted within the boundaries understood by members the group. I want to reiterate that the texts were between friends and included my wife and other people. The texts in question were typed whilst I was sitting with my wife at the pub and we were egging each other on. The complainant was an active participant in this ribald exchange.

The person in question was a friend. We had met at work and a broader friendship was kindled. Our family’s regularly spent time with each other. We my wife and I were fairly new to Hobart had a young child and really didn’t have a lot of people around us. We enjoyed the opportunity to spend time with another family.

The personal relationship diminished over time due primarily to work pressures, competition for positions and differing focuses professionally but we remained colleagues and worked professionally until January last year.  She was my manager for the last 5 years.

This person in the last federal election supported my campaign, volunteered for me and posted social media endorsements. I did not ask her for this support. I have had no workplace issues in my many years of employment and I believe I am considered as a fairly well liked person in the workplace.

The allegations were made initially on Sunday 28 March at around 12pm where I was contacted via Facebook messenger. The contact was both aggressive and threatening.

On Monday 5 April, a signed handwritten stat dec was received at Labor house. Easter Monday. It was brief, targeted and entirely absent of any information necessary to understand the context of the incident.

I am of the understanding that both the state secretary Stuart Benson and the state leader Rebecca White met with the person. I was contacted lunchtime on the Monday by the secretary to discuss and provide feedback.

At 4:30 Monday afternoon I was contacted by Rebecca and informed that I must resign my nomination and step away or she will make a public statement and disendorse me. Less the 2 hours after I had met with the secretary

The Labor party has a policy and a process to deal with complaints against members. This not been followed. There has been no investigation., Witnesses have not been interviewed. I have not been afforded the basic courtesy of providing my side of the story.

I have had no recourse of action and no opportunity to defend myself. I have been accused internally. This information has then found its way into the media. This appears for all intent as a smear campaign to hurt me and my nomination and my opinion of this has been reinforced by the recent actions of state leader.

Rebecca has failed in providing leadership here. She has seen an opportunity to rid herself of a factional challenge. She has been more focused on ensuring a current mayor gets preselected then worry about her party or it’s members.  More supportive of the vocal minority at the cost of the majority whom have remained consciously silent. She has adopted a course which will reward those who engage in dishonourable and grubby politics rather than upholding the values of fairness at the core of the ALP. And I say this as the president of the Tasmanian branch of the party.

I’ve worked in mental health and with young people for a long time. I’ve worked with those who have been bullied and harassed. I’ve worked with survivors of sexual assault and supported them and their families. I have provided support to many people who have gone through many challenges. For another candidate, someone without the support I have and this understanding, this form of accusation would have significant detrimental impacts on the person. This has had a huge impact on me and my family, in particular my wife who is pregnant.

In the context of Grace Tame and Brittany Higgins I understand the impact of words and of actions. I want to acknowledge that men need to do better. We need to understand and be supportive of women subject to inappropriate, sexist and discriminatory behaviour. Ensure their complaints are heard and investigated.

What we must avoid is the weaponization of the public outrage at how we have failed women; to allow people to pervert this proper indignation for selfish ends. This will only undermine the current opportunity to bring lasting change.

I have never denied what happened nor that it was not inappropriate. I apologised at the time and again twice after this. The apology was accepted.

I ask how many of you have sent a text message you might’ve regretted say 6-7 years ago. We all make mistakes, we are human. What is important is what we do to make things right. I have never denied what happened nor that it was not inappropriate. I apologised at the time and again twice after this. The apology was accepted.

I am disappointed that this incident has been leaked to the media. I am disappointed that I have not been afforded the basic right of having this allegation investigate and having the opportunity to defend myself.

However, I realise that no matter what I say today, no matter the malicious intent of the attack on me, mud will stick. This has and will continued to have a profoundly negative effect on me, my wife and my family. The complaint will detract from the positive plan that the ALP has for Tasmanians. And at the end of the day I am a Tasmanian first and foremost and believe that we will all be better if Labor is re-elected.

I have therefore made the very difficult decision to step down as a candidate for Clark.

Thank you. I will not be taking any questions.

Editor’s note: Oh dear…

Image courtesy Sean McComish.