The man set to become the new leader of the NSW Labor party, Michael Daley, says he believes the allegations made by ABC journalist Ashleigh Raper, and wants former leader Luke Foley to quit parliament and drop his plans to take legal action.
“I know Ashleigh Raper, she’s a good person," he said on Sky News on Friday morning. "She’s a credible person. Her statement was carefully considered and I believe her."
Daley confirmed he will be putting his hand up for the top job at Saturday's emergency caucus meeting, called to elect a replacement for Foley.
BuzzFeed News understands Daley has the numbers to win. Penny Sharpe is tipped to take deputy.
Daley told Sky he was "shocked and saddened" when he read the statement released by the ABC on Thursday, where Ashleigh Raper confirmed she was the journalist at the centre of the speculation about an alleged drunken groping involving Foley at a Christmas party in 2016.
"I believe Ashleigh," he said. "She's been dragged into this unwillingly."
Foley maintains the accusations against him are "false" and said he has hired solicitors and a senior counsel and planned to take legal action in the Federal Court.
Daley wants the former Labor leader to reconsider his decision to pursue defamation proceedings because "that would be a bad thing for everyone concerned".
On Friday NSW Labor cancelled an $80-a-head fundraiser for Foley's re-election campaign that federal frontbencher Chris Bowen was due to appear at later this month.
During his resignation press conference Foley said he would not be quitting parliament and planed to remain on the backbench. This angered many within the party, who believe Foley should have apologised and left politics completely.
Daley confirmed Foley has been referred to the party's candidate review committee, to decide whether he will be disendorsed as the Labor candidate for Auburn at the March state election.
BuzzFeed News understands potential candidates to replace Foley are already being discussed within party headquarters, including NSW assistant secretary Rose Jackson.
Daley said Foley won't be welcome in NSW Parliament if he becomes leader.
"I think Luke Foley should carefully consider his position," Daley said.
"If I'm the leader of the Labor party, I don't want Luke Foley sitting in our ranks," Daley said.
In a statement released by the ABC on Thursday, Raper said she never intended to go public with the allegations.
Raper said it was time for her "voice to be heard" because the public debate had escalated after corrections minister David Elliott aired the matter in parliament without her permission.
"In November 2016 I attended an official Christmas function at New South Wales Parliament House for state political reporters, politicians, and their staff," Raper said.
Raper said the party moved from NSW Parliament House to a bar in Martin Place.
"Later in the evening, Luke Foley approached a group of people, including me, to say goodnight. He stood next to me. He put his hand through a gap in the back of my dress and inside my underpants. He rested his hand on my buttocks.
"I completely froze."
Raper said the incident was witnessed by another journalist, but she chose not to make a complaint for a "number of reasons".
"It is clear to me that a woman who is the subject of such behaviour is often the person who suffers once a complaint is made," she said. "I cherished my position as a state political reporter and feared that would be lost.
"I also feared the negative impact the publicity could have on me personally and on my young family."
But that impact was now "being felt profoundly", she said.
Raper said Foley called her on Sunday to apologise and said he planned to resign as NSW Labor leader on Monday. She said he changed his mind the next day, and told her he'd received legal advice not to quit.
Raper said Foley told her, "I’m not a philanderer, I’m not a groper, I’m just a drunk idiot".
Elliott released a three-sentence statement on Friday about his role in making the allegations public without Raper's permission.
"This has clearly been a difficult time for the journalist," he said. "I have long held concerns over the character of the alternate premier. To that end, it was never my intent to cause distress for the journalist."