A senior Liberal Party adviser has been forced to resign after he allegedly ''groped'' several women at Wednesday night's Mid-Winter Ball at Parliament House.
Anthony Scrinis's alleged behaviour at the premiere parliamentary social event has embarrassed the Liberal Party, and especially his employer, the Opposition's spokeswoman for the advancement of women, Sophie Mirabella. Mr Scrinis had joined Ms Mirabella's office three days earlier.
Mr Scrinis's career as a political staffer came to a crashing halt after six complaints reached Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull's office.
Ms Mirabella issued a statement late yesterday saying a ''probationary staff member'' had tendered his resignation, although he ''disputes some of the allegations''.
Mr Scrinis, 41, was an unsuccessful Independent candidate for the Port Phillip Council in Victoria's local government elections in November. Mr Scrinis says on his personal website he enrolled to vote for the first time in his life in September.
Much of his website is devoted to disputing evidence of global warming and the need for governments to take measures to combat or adapt to climate change.
He did not return calls from The Canberra Times yesterday.
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