Former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett says a state Labor MP who smashed a Canberra hotel door should not use his mental health as an excuse for his behaviour.
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Will Fowles, 40, flew into a rage and smashed the lower half of a door at the Abode Hotel in an argument with staff about his luggage on Thursday.
The MP for the eastern Melbourne seat of Burwood agreed to go with police for questioning, but was not charged, and later apologised for his actions and agreed to pay for the damage.
"I have, for a long time, been dealing with addiction and other mental health issues," he said in a statement.
"I will take a leave of absence to properly deal with my health issues."
Mr Fowles said the outburst occurred because he couldn't access medication inside his luggage.
Mr Kennett, a former Liberal leader who founded mental health advocacy group Beyond Blue, slammed the MP for mentioning his mental health issues.
"What I object to very much indeed is him using the coverall of a mental health illness in any way contributing to this act," he told 3AW radio on Friday.
"Mental health does not lead to acts of violence, criminality or antisocial behaviour, in a majority of cases. Alcohol and drugs do, but not mental health."
"This is an unacceptable use of mental health as an issue."
Mr Kennett said he has known Mr Fowles since the younger man went to school with his son and he had a "reputation of being a bully".
Victorian premier Daniel Andrews rejected Mr Kennett's comments, but agreed that Mr Fowles needed help.
"As regrettable, as unacceptable as his conduct was in Canberra, hopefully he will be able to look back in some months' time that this was a turning point," the premier told reporters.
"He's apologised, I believe him to be sincere in that apology. I don't think it would ever be easy to admit to the world that you had a whole range of problems."
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said it was still unclear if Mr Fowles had mental health issues.
"That's in a different category than somebody who's had a tantrum and can't get access to the door and decides to kick it in," he told Nine's Today show.
"If that's the case, he should be thrown out. Not on full pay."
Mr Fowles is part of Mr Andrews' Socialist Left faction and entered parliament in November 2018 as Labor retained power with a landslide win.
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Australian Associated Press
