Harassed Labour staffers ask Bennett for help

The Herald reported:

Parliamentary workers who complained about inappropriate behaviour in the Labour Party are fearful, intimidated, and feel they have not been taken seriously, says National Party deputy leader Paula Bennett.
Bennett said she had been contacted by one of the women who made a formal complaint with the Labour Party, one of several who alleged bullying and sexual harassment about a Labour staffer working in the parliamentary complex.
“She had made formal complaints, as had a number of other people over many months, has not been taken seriously, has not had due process,” Bennett told reporters this afternoon.
“They’ve have been told to keep quiet about what’s going on, that it should be kept as an internal process, advised not to go to the police. They feel they are losing all options and actually losing hope.”

Bennett said she was told the complainants, some of whom worked in the Beehive and in the Prime Minister’s office, were feeling unsafe.
“They’re at the stage now where they’re seeing people having panic attacks, crying, really serious anxiety. They’ve taken the extraordinary step, because they feel they are not being listened to or taken seriously, to actually come to the deputy leader of the Opposition to hope they can be heard.”
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed on Tuesday that the party conducted an internal investigation into the complaints, but that process was now being reviewed independently following further complaints.
She added that anyone with complaints “of that nature” should go to the police.
The Herald understands there are 12 people who alleged improper behaviour, seven of whom laid formal complaints with the Labour Party. Four have since quit the party.
No disciplinary action was taken following the internal investigation, and the complainants had not laid any complaints with the police or with the Speaker, who is responsible for the health and safety of parliamentary workers.

Why has this been an internal whitewash within Labour, rather than treated as a workplace investigation?

I understand the person complained about is an employee of Jacinda’s Ardern parliamentary office. That makes it a matter for her and her office, not the party. The party is not the employer.

The fact Labour staffers are having to turn to Paula Bennett for support and assistance must give you some idea of how badly let down they feel by Labour.

UPDATE: Newshub reveals that the Labour Party General Secretary told the victims that they should avoid particular areas of Parliament!!

This is Labour’s solution – a no go zone for female staffers in Parliament!

Bug the bigger issue is why was this ever dealt with by the Labour Party General Secretary. He has no role in health and safety issues in the parliamentary precinct. Why was this not immediately notified to The Parliamentary Service as a health and safety issue?