The NSW Nationals leader didn't know one of his MPs was facing a rape allegation dating back more than a year until it was raised in state parliament.
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Labor MP for the Blue Mountains Trish Doyle told parliament under privilege an MP, whom she did not name, raped a sex worker in the Blue Mountains in 2019.
"It is all the worse that this man who raped her is a government member of this chamber ... his power and privileged position as a civic leader make that fear, anger and hurt all the worse," she told the lower house.
Ms Doyle said she was contacted 18 months ago by the sex worker, who told her she had responded to an advertisement placed by a man who raped her when she did not consent to penetrative sex.
Party leader and Deputy Premier John Barilaro said he didn't hear her statement but was alerted to speculation the allegation might involve Nationals Upper Hunter MP Michael Johnsen.
"So within 20 minutes I rang Michael to ask him directly," he told Sydney radio 2GB on Thursday.
Mr Barilaro then spoke to Premier Gladys Berejiklian and the Nationals leadership team before Mr Johnsen issued a statement announcing he was taking leave while a police investigation was underway.
"This is a very serious matter for all involved," Mr Barilaro said.
"Because there is a police investigation I believed it was necessary for everybody that he stands aside as parliamentary secretary, that he no longer sits in the National Party room or the joint party room.
"He accepted that course of action. He's not in a great way. These are serious allegations."
On Wednesday night, Mr Johnsen said he had - "without admission" - stepped aside from his role and would not sit in the party rooms.
"I am devastated by these allegations," he said.
"I have voluntarily spoken with NSW Police and I have and will continue to fully co-operate with their inquiries.
"I am confident any investigation will conclude that I am an innocent party."
Opposition Leader Jodi McKay said the woman making the allegations had given permission for her case to be publicly disclosed.
She said the revelation was another blow to the Berejiklian government, which had become embroiled in "scandal after scandal" after 10 years in power.
She noted Ms Berejiklian had indicated she would have expected to be informed about the police investigation.
"Why would you disclose any misbehaviour to this government when the premier herself didn't disclose to ICAC what she knew and didn't disclose a relationship with Daryl Maguire," she said.
"She sets the standard."
Mr Johnsen was elected to NSW parliament in 2015 in the now-marginal seat of Upper Hunter.
He was appointed parliamentary secretary for agriculture and a member of the committee of parliamentary privilege and ethics in 2019.
NSW Police confirmed they are investigating an allegation of sexual violence against a woman in the Blue Mountains in September 2019.
Australian Associated Press
