Tasmanian Greens leader Cassy O'Connor is calling for the state government to provide her with a report into an alleged incident two years ago whereby a one-time adviser to former premier Will Hodgman was said to have called her a "meth-head c--t" as he walked past her.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But Premier Peter Gutwein said an independent inquiry was conducted two years ago and "as far as I'm concerned, that matter is now finished".
Ms O'Connor made national headlines on Wednesday night, when she delivered an explosive speech on adjournment in the lower house, using parliamentary privilege to accuse Mr Hodgman's former media adviser Andrew Hudgson of hurling a "vile insult" at her as she gave a press conference outside Parliament House in Hobart on Feburary 1, 2019.
Mr Hudgson had most recently been working for federal Housing Minister Michael Sukkar but a federal government spokesperson confirmed that Mr Hudgson was asked to resign in the wake of "several historical allegations" being raised about him, unrelated to his period of employment in Tasmania.
On Thursday, Ms O'Connor said she wanted to see a copy of the report produced during an independent investigation - conducted under the auspices of the Department of Premier and Cabinet - into the alleged incident - a report which concluded the allegation could not be substantiated.
"The complaint was made to the premier's chief-of-staff and after the initial - let's face it - fob-off, [and] it was elevated up to DPAC investigation, which was, as I understand it, ordered by the premier of the day," she said. "But natural justice wasn't followed because we never saw a copy of that investigation and we'd like to."
Ms O'Connor said she and her adviser, Alice Giblin, who says she heard Mr Hudgson utter the remark, should have received a copy of the report when it was completed.
IN OTHER NEWS:
"It doesn't instill confidence in the investigation when that report was not shared with us and Mr Hudgson apparently experienced no sanction for his language," she said.
Premier Peter Gutwein wouldn't be drawn on whether or not his predecessor had handled the matter appropriately, adding that he didn't want to "spend time on matters that I can't change".
"What I want to do is focus on those things that I can change," he said.
Mr Gutwein will meet with parliamentary leaders, including Ms O'Connor, next week to discuss what might be done to ensure the workplace culture in the Tasmanian Parliament is "best practice".
Mr Hudgson was contacted for comment.
Rob Inglis
Rob Inglis is a reporter with The Examiner, covering state and federal politics. He is based in Hobart.
Rob Inglis is a reporter with The Examiner, covering state and federal politics. He is based in Hobart.
