Former NSW opposition leader Luke Foley has announced he will no longer take legal action against an ABC journalist who claimed he’d groped her at a work function.
Earlier this month, Foley was forced to resign his position after ABC journalist Ashleigh Raper (main photo) made claims of inappropriate touching at a Christmas function in Sydney in 2016.
Despite stepping down from his position, Foley threatened to sue Raper over the allegations.
However, today the former leader distanced himself from any action.
“It’s in nobody’s interest for this matter to be the subject of long running court proceedings and I won’t put everyone through this,” Foley said a statement.
Media reports suggest senior Labor ministers had pressured Foley not to pursue the claim as it could distract from the party’s chances at the NSW state election due in the first quarter of 2019.
Foley has since said he would not contest his safe Labor seat of Auburn in Sydney’s west at next year’s election.
