Clarence mayor Brendan Blomeley seeks right to reply to claims made against him by Greens MLC Cassy O’Connor in parliament

Clarence Mayor Brendan Blomeley has demanded a right of reply to claims by a Greens MLC that he was the subject of claims of intimidation, bullying and sexual harassment from women in the Liberal Party.

Clarence Mayor Brendan Blomeley at Richmond. Picture: Chris Kidd

Clarence Mayor Brendan Blomeley has demanded parliament give him the right of reply to claims by a Greens MLC that he was the subject of claims of intimidation, bullying and sexual harassment from women in the Liberal Party.

He says he also wants Cassy O’Connor referred to the Privileges Committee.

The member for Hobart made a series of allegations against Mr Blomeley in the Legislative Council on Thursday evening.

Mr Blomeley has been waging a vigorous but so far unsuccessful campaign to be reinstated to the Liberal Party after being expelled for not dismissing speculation he might run as an independent at the last state election.

Former Tasmanian Greens leader and now MLC Cassy O'Connor. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Ms O’Connor made a series of allegations against Mr Blomeley – including that he had bullied, harassed and intimidated” a woman at an event and left her in tears.

Mr Blomeley on Monday issued a statement describing the claims as “unsubstantiated and defamatory”.

“Even after receiving advice during her contribution, from both the President and the Deputy President, Ms O’Connor – an experienced 16-year veteran of the Tasmanian parliament – continued to shamelessly attack my reputation under the guise of parliamentary privilege.

“In so doing, Ms Connor abused the privilege extended to all parliamentarians in such an egregious and unparliamentary manner, and in direct contravention of the Code of Conduct.”

The Code of Conduct requires that members “take particular care to consider the rights and reputations of others before making use of the unique protection available under parliamentary privilege’, Mr Blomeley said.

“This privilege should never be used recklessly or without due regard to accuracy.”

Mr Blomeley said he wanted to exercise his right to respond to the claims against him.

“In response to Ms O’Connor’s flagrant abuse of parliamentary privilege, I have written to the President of the Legislative Council, … Craig Farrell MLC, to formally request that the Member for Hobart, … Cassy O’Connor MLC, be referred to the Legislative Council Privileges and Conduct Committee.

“[And] as my reputation has been adversely affected by the unsubstantiated and defamatory assertions made by Ms O’Connor, that I be given the opportunity to formally respond, as per Part 33 of the Legislative Council’s Standing Orders – Citizen’s Right of Reply.”

Originally published as Clarence mayor Brendan Blomeley seeks right to reply to claims made against him by Greens MLC Cassy O’Connor in parliament