Premier Daniel Andrews accused of deeply personal attack against Liberal MP Donna Bauer

UPDATE: FORMER Liberal MP and cancer survivor Donna Bauer says she is struggling to believe Premier Daniel Andrews’ denial that he used insulting language about her.

Former MP Donna Bauer. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

FORMER Liberal MP and cancer survivor Donna Bauer says she is struggling to believe Premier Daniel Andrews’ denial that he used insulting language about her.

Two Labor MPs have told the Herald Sun they heard Mr Andrews use insulting language in parliament when Ms Bauer was battling bowel cancer in 2014.

The then-opposition leader allegedly remarked that Ms Bauer would not pose much of a threat at the election because she would be “s----ing in a bag”.

Premier Daniel Andrews. Sarah Matray

Mr Andrews has described the allegation as “defamatory, disgusting and wrong”.

He called Ms Bauer on Saturday to tell her that he had not made the comment.

Ms Bauer yesterday said that she appreciated the call, but was “disappointed” it took a week after the allegation was raised in a report for him to contact her.

“As a member of parliament if any comment I’d made was misconstrued or misquoted I’d immediately set the record straight,” Ms Bauer said.

“I’m struggling with the fact that Labor members of parliament say they heard him say it.

“I’d prefer to believe that a comment this abhorrent was never made but people from his own party claim it was.”

Mr Andrews, in a statement to 3AW, said: “After losing my dad recently to a long and heartbreaking battle with cancer, it is disgraceful that people would sink this low.

“These lies have also brought unnecessary distress and hurt to others.”

Ms Bauer said Mr Andrews had reminded her in his phone call that he sent her a note when she was diagnosed with cancer and offered a pair for her in Parliament when she was undergoing chemotherapy and surgery.

She said she told the premier she would be “absolutely devastated and extremely hurt” if he had made the remark.