David Davis accused of verbally abusing bar staff

Opposition health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier says David Davis is the victim of a “political smear campaign” in the wake of a new drama involving his behaviour while drinking.

Opposition health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier has defended her embattled colleague David Davis in the wake of a fresh controversy, calling it “a political smear campaign”.

The shadow treasurer is embroiled in another drama involving his behaviour while drinking, with details emerging of a dispute at the Bright Brewery last year.

In April 2021, the Legislative Council held a regional sitting at Bright, with MPs and staffers spending three days in the area.

The night before the regional parliament sat, politicians from across the aisle attended a function at a nearby winery before making their way to the Bright Brewery.

Mr Davis and another MP were then reported to have become heavily intoxicated. Witnesses said Mr Davis verbally abused staff and swore at staff at the bar over table service and what menu items were available.

Victorian Shadow Treasurer David Davis has been accused of verbally abusing bar staff. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

An employee from the Brewery at the time said they had to step in and ask Mr Davis not to disparage their colleagues.

The pair of MPs eventually later left the venue after being refused service.

A day later, a representative from the Victorian government phoned the venue to apologise on behalf of the government.

“He was a bit tired and emotional,” one MP who was at the Brewery said.

“He was being somewhat offensive toward the staff member and I recall Jaclyn Symes had to call and apologise.”

In a statement Mr Davis said: “No one can claim their behaviour is perfect”.

If any offence was caused, I apologise unreservedly.

“No-one from the establishment has raised any issues with me subsequent to the evening.

“It is troubling that it now appears I am the target of a political smear campaign.”

On Friday, Ms Crozier also labelled it “a political smear campaign”.

“David has apologised,” she said.

Ms Crozier said it should be Premier Daniel Andrews issuing an apology for the state of Victoria’s health network.

“It’s not David that has caused twelve deaths from people that haven’t been able to get through to triple-0. It’s not David that has caused 100,000 Victorans (to be) waiting on the elective surgery wait list,” she said.

“This is the Andrews government. Not one minister has taken accountability for that. Not one minister has resigned. How disgraceful.

Let’s just think about what’s absolutely critical here.”

Opposition health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier says Daniel Andrews should be issuing an apology instead of David Davis. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Ms Crozier said Victorians had bigger concerns than the allegations of bad behaviour levelled at the senior MP.

“People are dying under the watch of the Andrews government,” she said.

“Do you really think Victorians are worried about a political scare campaign? No. They’re worried about whether they can get an ambulance, whether they can get their child into surgery, whether they can get care for their elderly parents.

“This is what Victorians are concerned about. This is a system in crisis where every second counts.”

Meanwhile, Animal Justice Party MP Andy Meddick said he was disappointed by Davis’s behaviour almost a year after the Bright incident.

“We have a responsibility to behave in a particular manner. You can do what you like in a private setting but when you’re attending a function or an event, you’re not just representing yourself as an MP or your party, you’re representing the parliament as an institution and you need to uphold that,” he said.

“If you do something wrong, you apologise and transgress, but you don’t repeat the behaviour.

It appears there is form and a prevailing attitude that this is OK.”

Animal Justice Party MP Andy Meddick said he witnessed Mr later became angry after being told a menu item had sold out. Picture: Paul Jeffers

Speaking of the incident at the Bright Brewery in April last year, Mr Meddick told the Herald Sun he was at the bar when he noticed Mr Davis interacting with the bar staff - a young woman and a young man.

“He asked if he could get service at his table. He was politely told there was no table service and food could be brought out after ordering at the bar which is pretty standard stuff at a brewery,” Mr Meddick said.

“He then cracked it and thought it was very poor service. The staff were taken aback.”

Mr Meddick said Mr Davis later became angry after the menu item had sold out.

“That annoyed him again. There was swearing, it was very forceful and abusive,” he said.

“I was ashamed and embarrassed.”