Veteran NSW Labor frontbencher Walt Secord has stood down from the shadow ministry following allegations he bullied parliamentary staff and Opposition Leader Chris Minns says he may have received complaints about other members' "bad behaviour".
Mr Minns said it had become clear over the weekend many colleagues were concerned about the high-profile opposition police spokesman's behaviour.
"I'll be encouraging them to make a complaint either through the parliamentary processes or the NSW Labor Party's processes," he told reporters on Monday.
"I expect formal complaints will come and as a result of that an inquiry will, of course, be staged."
Accusations of bullying were levelled at the upper house member on Friday, after a long-awaited parliamentary report into sexual harassment and bullying in the NSW parliament was published.
The Labor leader would not confirm where the allegations came from, saying the complainants had wanted to remain anonymous.
"In each case and every case those people have asked that it remain anonymous and the circumstances related to it remain confidential."
Mr Minns rejected suggestions Mr Secord was a known bully, and took time to define bullying as "abusive or coercive conduct towards someone in a vulnerable situation".
"There has potentially been a situation where people have complained about Mr Secord, or other members of the parliamentary Labor Party, for bad behaviour or perceived bad behaviour, policy differences, argumentative style," he said.
Mr Minns, who previously worked as Mr Secord's junior staffer and alongside him as a shadow minister, before becoming Labor leader, said he had never witnessed problematic behaviour from him.
"But you know, I respect other people would have different relationships with him and have different contexts and histories," he said.
"The process here is to allow those people to feel comfortable enough to make complaints so that we can deal with the culture."
Mr Secord, a 30-year Labor Party veteran, said in a statement on Monday he was stepping down after discussions with Mr Minns.
"I fully support the Broderick Review and the change it will hopefully lead to," he said.
"But my remaining in the shadow ministry at this time has become a distraction from these major revelations and the important work that needs to be done.
"I will be making no further comment."
Mr Secord held the shadow ministries for the arts and heritage, police, counter terrorism and the north coast.
Replacements for his portfolios will be announced later on Monday.
His apology on Friday acknowledged he could be "too blunt and too direct in a fast-paced workplace".
"Especially in dealing with strict deadlines and highly stressful situations in a time sensitive, highly pressurised environment," he said.
"If any parliamentary staff members feel my conduct in the workplace was unprofessional and caused offence or distress and was unacceptable, I unreservedly apologise."
He vowed to be "part of repairing the culture in state parliament" and to address his "shortcomings".
