An Illawarra Labor MP has reacted angrily to claims alcohol was to blame for Opposition members’ unruly behaviour in the lower house of the NSW Parliament.
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Member for Keira Ryan Park was left “appalled” after the Speaker of the Parliament’s Legislative Assembly, South Coast MP Shelley Hancock, suggested Labor pollies were drunk on the job.
“I am really concerned about the effect of alcohol on many members," Ms Hancock told the ABC.
“I suspect, and many people have said to me, that they're smelling alcohol on members when they come into question time.
“There is just absolutely no respect for the Speaker.”
Mr Park was shocked by the comments and said he refused to be “smeared” by Ms Hancock’s “baseless allegations”.
“I will not stand by and have this allegation directed at me or any of my colleagues,” Mr Park, who is also Labor’s Illawarra spokesman, said.
“I have never once observed any member come to question time intoxicated and the reality is neither has she.
“This is a pathetic excuse from an individual who holds a very important position in our democracy and clearly she should know better.”
Mr Park described the Speaker’s behaviour as “nothing short of disgraceful and embarrassing”.
He called on Ms Hancock to name the people who made the comments and delivered an ultimatum to resign if she couldn’t.
“I will not be smeared by your baseless allegations and pathetic attempt to distract from your inability to do the job that you are paid hundreds of thousands of dollars a year by tax payers to do,” he said.
The Mercury contacted Ms Hancock’s office for a response.
The alcohol-related comments came just days after Ms Hancock called several Labor MPs “idiots”, “blockheads” and “boofheads” during question time on Thursday – the final sitting day before the Parliament’s six-week, mid-winter break.
The name-calling happened during debate over Opposition Leader Luke Foley’s budget reply speech.
“You can all cluster out there and have a little bitch session, I don’t care,” Ms Hancock said on Thursday evening, having ejected five Labor MPs from the house.
Those comments prompted Deputy Opposition leader Michael Daley to question Ms Hancock’s position.
Mr Daley said the Speaker had ejected 263 Opposition MPs from the house during her eight years in the job.
“In my 12 years as a member of this house I cannot recall such partisan and one-sided behaviour from a Speaker,” he said.
Kiama MP Gareth Ward defended Ms Hancock, saying she constantly battled “total disrespect” and “appalling behaviour”.
– with Emily Barton
Andrew Pearson
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
