Labor MLA Marisa Paterson speaks about sexual harassment in maiden speech to ACT Legislative Assembly

One of the ACT’s newest parliamentarians has used her maiden speech to detail sexual harassment she says she suffered while working with a prominent New Zealand academic.

Dr Marisa Paterson told the ACT Legislative Assembly she lodged a formal complaint against a pro vice-chancellor at a leading New Zealand university in 2019, less than a week before nominating to contest the seat of Murrumbidgee in the territory’s October election.

The 37-year-old is Labor’s newest member and one of four newly-elected parliamentarians to give their inaugural speeches today.

Dr Paterson told the Assembly that after lodging her complaint the system “failed” her, and that action was only taken against her alleged perpetrator after she made her complaint…