LNP’s Ros Bates forced to apologise to parliament in wake of ‘close your legs’ controversy

Ros Bates has “unequivocally” apologised to Parliament in the latest twist in the “cross your legs” saga after she was found in contempt for “refusing to follow the Speaker’s direction”. But that’s not the end of it.

Ros Bates has apologised to parliament after refusing to take back comments Shannon Fentiman found offensive.

Firebrand LNP frontbencher Ros Bates has apologised to parliament after she earlier refused to say sorry for offending Health Minister Shannon Fentiman.

But the “unequivocal” apology did not extend to Ms Fentiman herself with the pair still embroiled in a bitter legal stoush over the controversial incident.

Shannon Fentiman’s Instagram post about Ros Bates’ controversial comment.

In the latest chapter of a stunning saga between the pair, Ms Bates was found in contempt of parliament and forced to apologise to avoid the risk of heavy fines or even jail time.

The apology came after the Ethics Committee found Ms Bates in contempt for in May refusing to follow a long-standing convention and withdraw a comment Ms Fentiman claimed was offensive during the fiery “close your legs” saga.

Controversy erupted in May when Ms Fentiman posted a video snippet of parliament to her social media accounts wrongly depicting Ms Bates yelling “close your legs” across the chamber during a fiery debate over Queensland’s regional maternity services.

Transcripts showed Ms Bates said “cross your legs”— which the MP said was a comment about how mothers were somehow being asked to hold their babies in until they could reach an open maternity ward.

Ros Bates speak to the media, Monday, April 1, 2024 - Picture: Richard Walker

Ms Bates revealed the video had unleashed a horrific wave of cyber-bullying, and called on Ms Fentiman and other Labor MPs to take down the post.

But Ms Fentiman took offense at what she believed was Ms Bates alleging she had incited threats of violence.

In a stunning move that tested the conventions of parliament, Ms Bates refused to withdraw the comments Ms Fentiman found offensive in defiance of the Speaker’s direction.

“I am a victim and I do not withdraw,” she said.

In one voice message left with Ms Bates’ electorate office, an unidentified caller labels her a “f---ing dog c---”.

The stoush also spilled outside the chamber, with Premier Steven Miles at the time labelling Ms Bates “one of the nastiest people” in Queensland Parliament as he stood by Ms Fentiman.

The parliament’s Ethics Committee ruled Ms Bates was in contempt for “refusing to follow the Speaker’s direction to withdraw”.

Under the rules Ms Bates had to “apologise unequivocally” at the “earliest opportunity”.

“I would like to unequivocally apologize to Mr. Speaker and the house if I’m not taking the direction of Mr. Speaker,” Ms Bates said.

But the saga is not over.

Ms Bates’ legal representative, soon after the controversy, sought an apology and $5000 in compensation from Ms Fentiman.

It is understood the pair have been corresponding, through legal channels, with the ball currently in Ms Bates’ court.

An LNP spokesman indicated the matter remains ongoing.

The controversy also sparked a rare rebuke from Mr Pitt at the time, with the Speaker issuing a broad admonishment of MPs for increasingly refusing to remove social media posts which breach the parliament’s strict broadcast rules.