Health Minister Jill Hennessy apologises for C U Next Tuesday text message blunder

HEALTH Minister Jill Hennessy has apologised to Deputy Premier James Merlino after she inadvertently sent him a text using the phrase “C U Next Tuesday”.

Jill Hennessy has apologised after inadvertently sending Deputy Premier James Merlino a text saying “C U Next Tuesday”. Picture: Nicole Garmston

HEALTH Minister Jill Hennessy has apologised to Deputy Premier James Merlino after she inadvertently sent him a text saying “C U Next Tuesday”.

The text was sent at the height of the voluntary euthanasia debate last week, as Mr Merlino was attempting to derail Ms Hennessy’s legislation.

An initial message sent from Ms Hennessy’s phone said “he’s a C U Next Tuesday”, which Labor MPs say was meant to go to another minister who supported the scheme.

After apparently realising her mistake, Ms Hennessy then wrote: “Or Wednesday next week”.

A third text said Ms Hennessy would have her office arrange the meeting, to which Mr Merlino responded: “nice recovery”.

The phrase C U Next Tuesday is a colloquial phrase sometimes used in place of the expletive c***.

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James Merlino during a marathon debate on voluntary euthanasia in State Parliament. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Premier Daniel Andrews said today that the matter had been dealt with by the two senior ministers.

“I understand that they’ve had a discussion,” he said.

“I’m not here as a spokesperson for the Health Minister but I understand she apologised and the Deputy Premier has accepted that apology and it is the end of the matter.

“They’re both very busy people, they’ve got lots of important work to do.”

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews. Picture: AAP

The euthanasia bill has exposed deep divides in the Labor and Liberal parties over the issue of assisted-dying, with intense pressure put on MPs to back the majority view.

It will be debated in the upper house next week, when 40 MPs will decide whether the scheme to allow terminally ill Victorians access to lethal medication up to 12 months before their expected death is created.

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