Labor MP Kaushaliya Vaghela has accused the Victorian government of victim blaming in response to her public comments about a bullying accusation.
Ms Vaghela sensationally crossed the floor of parliament to vote against her own party last Wednesday, in order to support a motion by disgraced MP Adem Somyurek.
She released a statement on social media on Sunday afternoon, saying she was "sickened" by the government's response to her claim that bullying allegations she made against a person in the Premier's office were not properly dealt with.
"I have been bullied from the day I got elected because I dared to leave the Socialist Left faction," the statement said.
"Four years of bullying and abuse has taken its toll, so I ask the Premier and his team to stop."
Earlier, Premier Daniel Andrews labelled Ms Vaghela's claim that he turned a blind eye to bullying accusations as "fantasy without foundation."
The Premier confirmed that a bullying complaint had been made against a person in his office, and that person was then sacked.
"There was an issue and it was dealt with appropriately and that person no longer works in my office and the suggestion that was not dealt with appropriately is simply wrong," he said.
In her statement on social media, Ms Vaghela said she was never told that the staff member had been sacked, or received an apology from the Premier or his office.
The Rebel MP said she had "a documented chronology" of complaints going back to April 2019, which she would submit to WorkSafe.
She also tweeted a text message she sent to the Premier's chief of staff in 2019 in which she mentions "men trying to bully, harass and intimidate" her.
At a level crossing removal press conference on Sunday, Mr Andrews was joined by Jacinta Allan, Gabrielle Williams, Sonya Kilkenny, and Pauline Richards in a conspicuous show of support from four of his female party colleagues.
The government said the female MPs were present because the project runs through their electorates, and the event was planned weeks ago.
Ms Williams, the Minister for Women, defended the Premier against claims made by Ms Vaghela that he has a problem with women.
"The statements that were made and the claims that were made by Ms Vaghela yesterday do not reflect my personal experience nor do they reflect my observations, and nor do they reflect the work of the government," she said.
"We have a cabinet of over 50 per cent women, we have... in the Premier's own leadership team, his chief of staff and deputy chief of staff who are women, we have a caucus which is almost 50 per cent women.
Meanwhile, the state opposition has called on Treasurer Tim Pallas to withdraw comments he made yesterday about Ms Vaghela, and apologise.
In responding to the rebel MP's comments on Saturday, Mr Pallas appeared to question the mental state of Ms Vaghela.
"It is worrying for me that she said that, and it goes to her state of mind, and I hope, and I can assure her should she need assistance from the government, in any way, to help with her state of mind, we will support her in the way through this," Mr Pallas had said.
The shadow minister for women and mental health, Emma Kealy, said the comments were a poor reflection on the Labor party.
"The Premier must step up today and condemn his Treasurer's disgraceful comments and offer an immediate apology."
