O’Byrne’s future is up to him, White says

DAVID O’Byrne’s future is a matter for him to decide, Labor leader Rebecca White says.

Mr O’Byrne sat apart from the rest of the party he once led in parliament last week after being kicked out of the Labor caucus following sexual harassment claims made by a former union colleague.

Although Mr O’Byrne is no longer a part of the Parliamentary Labor Party, Ms White said she didn’t think he would be expelled from the Labor Party altogether.

She said she had not spoken to Mr O’Byrne about his role in parliament over the remainder of the term, after calling on him to resign.

“That’s a matter for David; I’ve made my views clear on that. It’s for him to consider his future,” she said.

“We’ll continue to work as we always have to support the Tasmanian community and we won’t stray from that purpose.

“The focus of the Labor Party has always been on standing up for a working people, and also those people who are most vulnerable.”

Liberal Minister Michael Ferguson said Labor was wrought by internal division.

“They are fragmented, they sit in three groups,” he said.

“You can see them in the left faction, the right faction interestingly sit together, and David O’Byrne on his own.

“It’s clearly a distraction for Labor. They’re in a mess.”