Emma Husar

{{short description|Former Australian politician}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}} {{Use Australian English|date=September 2021}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = Emma Husar | honorific_suffix = | image = | alt = | caption = | constituency_MP = Lindsay | parliament = Australian | majority =  | term_start = 2 July 2016 | term_end = 11 April 2019 | predecessor = Fiona Scott | successor = Melissa McIntosh | prior_term = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1980|4|20}} | birth_place = Kingswood, New South Wales, Australia | death_date =  | death_place = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = | citizenship = | party = Australian Labor Party | other_party =  | height =  | spouse = | partner =  | relations = | children = 3 | parents =  | mother =  | father =  | relatives = | education = | alma_mater = | occupation = | profession = | known_for = | cabinet = | committees = | portfolio = | awards =  | website =  | module = | module2 = | footnotes = }}

'''Emma Husar''' (born 20 April 1980<ref name="Husar aph">{{cite Au Parliament |mpid=263328 |name=Ms Emma Husar MP |access-date=2021-11-07}}</ref>) is a former Australian Labor Party (ALP) member of the Australian House of Representatives for the Division of Lindsay, which she represented from 2016 to 2019. During an internal investigation and media reports regarding staff complaints, Husar decided not to recontest her seat and was disendorsed by the ALP in due course.<ref>{{cite news |title=Husar dumped as ALP candidate for Lindsay |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/husar-dumped-as-alp-candidate-for-lindsay |access-date=3 August 2019 |work=SBS News}}</ref>

==Early life and education== Husar was born at Nepean Hospital<ref name="auto2">{{cite web|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/west/what-do-you-know-about-your-new-mp/news-story/551e61a5798ca7ecefe1a7ab5426bf68|title=What do you know about your new MP?|date=7 July 2016|website=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=8 December 2018}}</ref> in Kingswood, New South Wales, in the local government area of the City of Penrith.<ref name="Husar aph"/> She attended Caroline Chisholm College and Southport TAFE prior to enrolment at Western Sydney University in a Bachelor of Primary Teaching degree.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/west/what-do-you-know-about-your-new-mp/news-story/551e61a5798ca7ecefe1a7ab5426bf68?nk=5e37723bdbdefc21b47141714385d1d2-1546590802|title=What do you know about your new MP?|date=7 July 2016|website=www.dailytelegraph.com.au}}</ref>

==Political career== Husar worked in the retail and service sectors. She joined the Labor Party in 2013<ref name="auto2"/> and became president of the Penrith Branch (ALP) in 2015.<ref name="Husar aph"/> Husar was unsuccessful as the ALP candidate for the seat of Penrith in the 2015 New South Wales state election,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/emma-husar-how-a-backbencher-from-penrith-become-the-face-of-australias-domestic-violence-crisis-20161124-gswpgy.html|title=Emma Husar: how a backbencher from Penrith become the face of Australia's domestic violence crisis|first=Matthew|last=Knott|date=24 November 2016|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=2 August 2018}}</ref> but won the seat of Lindsay by defeating the sitting Liberal MP Fiona Scott in the 2016 federal election with a swing of 4.1 percent.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://results.aec.gov.au/20499/website/HouseDivisionPage-20499-128.htm|title=House of Representatives division information|website=Australian Electoral Commission|access-date=2 August 2018}}</ref> Lindsay was regarded as a key marginal seat.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/federal-election-2016-volunteer-deficit-stalls-fight-for-lindsay/news-story/f58f000cbf3863c78e7c83dd982c3fef|title=Federal election 2016: volunteer deficit stalls fight for Lindsay|first=Sarah|last=Martin|date=3 July 2016|website=The Australia|access-date=3 January 2019}}</ref>{{rp|para 1}} During her term in office, Husar sat on parliamentary committees for the National Disability Insurance Scheme; Employment, Education and Training; and Social Policy and Legal Affairs.<ref name="Husar aph"/>

===Internal assessment=== In July 2018, it was reported that Husar had been the subject of an internal assessment commissioned by the NSW Labor Party since March regarding staff complaints of workplace bullying and misconduct.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/aliceworkman/labor-mp-emma-husar-under-investigation | title=Labor MP Emma Husar Is Under Investigation Over Allegations Of Workplace Bullying And Misconduct | work=BuzzFeed News | date=20 July 2018 | access-date=20 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-19/emma-husar-says-she-is-horrified-to-learn-of-complaints/10015420 |title=Emma Husar says she is 'horrified' to learn of bullying allegations from former staff |work=ABC News|date=2018-07-19 |access-date=2018-07-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Candace Sutton |url=https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/we-took-turns-being-her-slave-mps-staff/news-story/864bbfff3889a3e7d5f3853ab7763367 |title=Emma Husar: Staff claim they were MP's 'slaves' |publisher=News.com.au |date=2018-07-21 |access-date=2018-07-23}}</ref> Husar denied the allegations and took personal leave shortly afterwards, citing threats of violence directed towards her.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-24/embattled-labor-mp-emma-husar-takes-personal-leave/10030986|title=Embattled Labor MP Emma Husar takes personal leave after 'threatening messages'|work=ABC News|date=24 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jul/24/labor-mp-emma-husar-takes-personal-leave-after-bullying-allegations-take-toll|title=Labor MP Emma Husar takes personal leave after bullying allegations take toll|first=Paul|last=Karp|date=24 July 2018|website=the Guardian}}</ref> The investigation upheld complaints that Husar had behaved offensively and unreasonably towards her staff.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/we-are-not-a-few-bad-apples-emma-husar-s-staff-break-their-silence-20181202-p50jpp.html|title=We are not a few 'bad apples': Emma Husar's staff break their silence|first=Kylar|last=Loussikian|date=2 December 2018|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=9 December 2018}}</ref> Separately, claims of lewd conduct and misleading the parliament were rejected. Legal advice based on this assessment prompted the NSW Labor Party to report that there was no basis for Husar to resign from parliament.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://theconversation.com/inquiry-finds-husar-behaved-badly-to-staff-but-dismisses-allegations-of-lewd-conduct-101385|title=Inquiry finds Husar behaved badly to staff but dismisses allegations of lewd conduct| work=The Conversation|author= Michelle Grattan|date=10 August 2018|access-date=31 August 2018}}</ref>

===Endorsement=== Husar had already been re-endorsed as the party's candidate at the 2019 election, but announced on 8 August 2018 (two days before investigation findings were made public)<ref>{{cite news |title=Outgoing Labor MP Emma Husar's statement |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/outgoing-labor-mp-emma-husar-s-statement |access-date=4 August 2019 |work=SBS News}}</ref> she would not recontest her marginal seat. Labor accepted her decision.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-08/labor-mp-emma-husar-will-not-contest-next-election/10090390 |newspaper=ABC news |title=Emma Husar won't recontest marginal seat for Labor at next election |date=8 August 2018 |access-date=8 August 2018}}</ref> In an interview, Husar said "slut shaming" led to her decision to resign.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-28/slut-shaming-forced-me-out-of-politics-emma-husar/10152266 |title='Slut-shaming is used as a method of torture': Emma Husar explains why she quit politics |first=Leigh |last=Sales |date=28 August 2018 |work=ABC News |access-date=28 August 2018}}</ref>

In November 2018, Husar said she had changed her mind and disputed that she had ever ceased to be endorsed as the Labor candidate.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/emma-husar-may-run-as-an-independent-for-lindsay/news-story/81ef63e920bf324c95ca6edd80ce8679?nk=5be2fa71c3995aa67180a01d05432b2a-1543426262 |newspaper=The Australian|title='Bill's always got my back': Emma Husar declares she's still Labor's candidate in Lindsay |date=27 November 2018 |access-date=28 November 2018}}</ref> Husar sought intervention by Labor leader Bill Shorten, who stated that it was not in the best interests of the ALP or Husar for her to recontest the seat.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-02/bill-shorten-on-emma-husarr-going-independent/10575426|newspaper=ABC News|title=Bill Shorten won't back Emma Husar's bid to run for Labor at the next election|date=2 December 2018|access-date=3 December 2018}}</ref> On 7 December 2018, NSW Labor formally disendorsed Husar from recontesting the seat of Lindsay.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/fight-for-foley-s-seat-to-be-decided-by-branch-members-20181207-p50ktb.html|newspaper=SMH|title=Ructions over Sydney seats crush Labor women's hopes|date=7 December 2018|access-date=7 December 2018}}</ref>

She subsequently stated that she would challenge the disendorsement.<ref name="auto1">{{cite news |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/husar-dumped-as-alp-candidate-for-lindsay|title=Husar dumped as ALP candidate for Lindsay|newspaper=SBS News|date=7 December 2018|access-date=7 December 2018}}</ref> On 11 December, Labor officially selected Diane Beamer. Apparently, Husar did not nominate for the ALP preselection ballot.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-11/emma-husar-considering-options-after-new-lindsay-candidate-pick/10606560|newspaper=ABC News|title=Emma Husar considering options after Labor picks new Lindsay candidate|date=11 December 2018|access-date=11 December 2018}}</ref> On 11 April, she confirmed that she would not contest the seat as an independent at the 2019 federal election.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/our-time-together-was-brief-husar-bows-out-of-politics-with-statement-to-lindsay-20190411-p51d8w.html|title='Our time together was brief': Husar bows out of politics with statement to Lindsay|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=11 April 2019|access-date=24 April 2019}}</ref>

In May 2021, Husar reportedly threatened legal action against the ALP for sexual harassment.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hall|first=Bianca |title=Former Labor MP Emma Husar threatens legal action over sexual harassment claims|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/former-labor-mp-emma-husar-threatens-legal-action-over-sexual-harassment-claims-20210530-p57wew.html|access-date=14 September 2021 |work=SMH|date=30 May 2021}}</ref>

===Defamation proceedings=== In early December 2018, Husar announced that she had launched defamation proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia against BuzzFeed, the originator of the investigation-story, and a journalist. Husar claimed that the publication of unsubstantiated allegations without the right of reply had led to a media storm which ruined her career, thus causing economic loss.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-06/emma-husar-launches-defamation-action-against-buzzfeed/10590570|newspaper=ABC News|title=Labor MP Emma Husar launches defamation proceedings against Buzzfeed|date=6 December 2018|access-date=7 December 2018}}</ref> In July 2019, Husar and Buzzfeed reached an out-of-court settlement.<ref>{{cite news|title=Emma Husar settles defamation case with news site Buzzfeed over 'slut' claims|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-29/emma-husar-settles-defamation-case-against-news-site-buzzfeed/11359756|access-date=29 July 2019 |work=ABC News |date=29 July 2019}}</ref> Buzzfeed subsequently published an apology but avoided admitting liability over the article, instead they did agree to taking it offline.<ref>{{cite news |last=McGowan |first=Michael |title=BuzzFeed apologises to Emma Husar for distress caused by 'slut-shaming' article |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2019/jul/30/buzzfeed-apologises-to-emma-husar-for-distress-caused-by-slut-shaming-article |access-date=31 July 2019|work=The Guardian |date=30 July 2019}}</ref>

===Expenses breaches=== In March 2019, ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' reported that Husar had repaid $2,300 to the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority after an audit found that there had been twenty-one individual breaches of travel expenses in an eighteen-month period. Husar explained that approximately ten per cent of the total was related to knee surgery and pneumonia in August 2016.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bagshaw |first=Eryk |title=Emma Husar pays back $2300 after 21 expenses breaches|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/emma-husar-pays-back-2300-after-21-expenses-breaches-20190307-p512fe.html|access-date=25 April 2019|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=7 March 2019}}</ref>

==Personal life== Husar is of Polish descent.<ref>{{cite news |title=Husar addresses dual citizenship rumours|url=https://westernweekender.com.au/2017/11/husar-addresses-dual-citizenship-rumours/|access-date=25 April 2019 |work=The Western Weekender |date=14 November 2017}}</ref> She has three children and is single.<ref name="new"/> In a November 2016 parliamentary speech, Husar revealed that she grew up in a family with a history of domestic violence perpetrated by her father.<ref>{{cite news |last=Knott |first=Matthew |title=Emma Husar: how a backbencher from Penrith become the face of Australia's domestic violence crisis |url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/emma-husar-how-a-backbencher-from-penrith-become-the-face-of-australias-domestic-violence-crisis-20161124-gswpgy.html|access-date=2017-06-22|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=2016-11-24}}</ref><ref name="new">{{cite web |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/west/what-do-you-know-about-your-new-mp/news-story/551e61a5798ca7ecefe1a7ab5426bf68 |title=What do you know about your new MP? |newspaper=Penrith Press|date=7 July 2016 |publisher=News Corp |access-date=7 July 2016}}</ref> She reportedly moved to Western Australia after leaving politics.<ref>{{cite news |author=Staff Writers |title=Husar: "They just burnt me and left me there to die"|url=https://westernweekender.com.au/2020/06/husar-they-just-burnt-me-and-left-me-there-to-die/|access-date=27 August 2020 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=28 June 2020}}</ref> In November 2020, Husar stated that she had not worked since she left parliament.<ref>{{cite news |last=Johnson|first=Paul |title=Former Labor MP Emma Husar calls out Barnaby Joyce, Alan Tudge, Christian Porter and Coalition leadership on Q+A|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-17/emma-husar-barnaby-joyce-jane-caro-gender-politics-q+a/12889462|access-date=17 November 2020 |work=ABC News|date=17 November 2020}}</ref>

In 2021, she appeared on the reality TV show ''SAS Australia''<ref>{{cite news |last=Burns|first=Brielle |title="I don't have any adrenal response anymore." After 'trial by media', Emma Husar only feels numb.|url=https://www.mamamia.com.au/emma-husar-sas-australia/|access-date=14 September 2021 |work=MamaMia|date=14 September 2021}}</ref> and was reportedly paid $25,000.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first=|title=Who's making the big bucks on SAS Australia|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=DTWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailytelegraph.com.au%2Fentertainment%2Fsydney-confidential%2Fa-look-at-how-much-sam-burgess-and-others-are-earning-on-sas-australia%2Fnews-story%2Fd3ca28a6127a5b97b58bd2af5d84b8f9&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=dynamic-cold-control-noscore&V21spcbehaviour=append|access-date=20 September 2021 |work=The Daily Telegraph|date=19 September 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Husar said that "It felt like a way of overcoming the issues I faced in 2018 at the end of my Parliamentary career and ‘prove to Australia’ that I am not what I was accused of."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bruno |first1=Gus |title=Emma Husar out to prove to Australia she is NOT what she was accused of in a tumultuous 2018 |url=https://7news.com.au/entertainment/sas-australia/sas-australia-2021-cast-former-labor-mp-emma-husar-wants-to-prove-to-australia-she-is-not-what-she-was-accused-of-during-a-tumultuous-2018-in-federal-parliament-c-3958637 |access-date=18 September 2021 |work=Seven News |date=15 September 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Husar left the show when she realised that a calf injury was going to hold her back in physical challenges.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Christie |first1=Erin |title=Dismissed! All the celebs who've left SAS Australia|url=https://www.who.com.au/sas-australia-2021-who-left|access-date=9 November 2021 |work=Who] |date=5 October 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [https://www.2gb.com/former-labor-mp-emma-husar-opens-up-months-after-being-forced-from-politics/ February 2020 radio interview with Husar] on 2GB

{{s-start}} {{s-par|au}} {{s-bef|before=Fiona Scott}} {{s-ttl|title=Member for Lindsay|years=2016–2019}} {{s-aft|after=Melissa McIntosh}} {{end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Husar, Emma}} Category:1980 births Category:Living people Category:Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of Australia Category:Politicians from Sydney Category:Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Lindsay Category:Members of the Australian House of Representatives Category:Women members of the Australian House of Representatives Category:21st-century Australian women politicians Category:Western Sydney University alumni Category:Australian MPs 2016–2019