Federal Labor backbencher Emma Husar says “slut-shaming” forced her decision not to recontest the Sydney seat of Lindsay at the next election.

“What brought my career in politics to an end was being slut-shamed so viciously, with no ability to come back and stand up for myself,” she told 7.30.

And she’s concerned that it’s a common tactic used against women in politics. “It’s almost used as a method of torture,” she said.

Ms Husar had been accused by a former staffer, Jeremy Anderson, of executing a Sharon Stone move from the movie Basic Instinct while her colleague Jason Clare was playing with his daughter on the floor in front of her.

“It’s utter garbage. Both Jason Clare and I have said it didn’t happen,” she said.

“Jeremy, who made that complaint, wasn’t even in Canberra on the day that he alleges that it actually took place.”

Mr Anderson would not comment specifically on this issue, but 7.30 understands that the date of the alleged incident is contested.

“I’m good mates with Jason and his wife. I’ve got a lot of time for both of them,” Ms Husar said.

“It’s one thing to drag me through it because you’ve got a vendetta or got an axe to grind, but it’s another thing to draw somebody else into this.

It made me sick to the stomach — it still does now.”

Barrister John Whelan, who was asked by the Labor Party to investigate the complaints, found the allegations of sexual harassment and lewd conduct were not supported.

Ms Husar had been the subject of 44 complaints about her behaviour in the workplace, 20 of them made by Mr Anderson after she had terminated his employment.

The other complaints were made anonymously.

These included bullying, swearing at staff, demanding excessive work hours and employing her nanny in her electoral office.

Mr Whelan found merit to a small number of the complaints relating to staff being “subjected to unreasonable management, including unreasonable communications, demands, practices and disciplinary methods”.

Ms Husar believes she was the target of a smear campaign based on a personal vendetta.

“I think this was particularly aimed at me because I fired a member of staff who felt that he was entitled not to be fired,” she said.

“Once [Jeremy Anderson] was terminated from my office, [he] did take up his option through Fair Work. But I note that none of the allegations that he made in his Fair Work submission for unfair dismissal were actually reflected in what he gave to John Whelan.

“So they were two very different sets of complaints.”

When contacted for a response, Mr Anderson strongly denied all allegations made by Ms Husar and had said he had no further comments.

Ms Husar rejects all the allegations investigated by Mr Whelan but does acknowledge she could have handled some things differently.

“I’m disappointed that they weren’t raised if they had issues at the time,” she said. “(It) certainly makes changing any of that stuff very, very difficult.

Labor MP Emma Husar admits complaints could have been handled better. Photo: ABC

“It is very, very difficult to make any sense of those anonymous complaints.”

Ms Husar is still subject to an audit by the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority of her parliamentary expenses over the past two years.

She says she is co-operating fully with that investigation, including providing bank statements, and believes she has done nothing wrong.

When approached for comments on his review, Mr Whelan referred 7.30 to the ALP.

A spokesman for NSW Labor said leaks of information during the assessment were reprehensible and did not come from the ALP or the Independent Assessment team.

Single young women targeted

Ms Husar says that being the target of gossip and rumours is commonplace for young, single women in the political sphere.

“[The rumours are] fast and they’re furious and they are non-stop,” she said.

“They have been happening since I walked through the doors of the Labor Party in 2014. It kills you.

“You’re constantly on your guard. You can’t have a conversation with someone because, God forbid, the next rumour will start.”

She’s concerned about what message that sends to other young women who are considering a career in politics.

“Slut-shaming is the oldest trick in the book if you want to undermine a female,” she said.

“And it’s used all the time.”

-ABC