Premier Daniel Andrews fends off renewed demands for him to apologise over calling Lib MP Cindy McLeish a “halfwit grub”

Premier Daniel Andrews has batted away new calls for him to apologise over calling a female MP a “halfwit grub” as the opposition brands the slur “hateful”.

Premier Daniel Andrews has come under fire for calliing a female MP a “halfwit grub”. Picture: David Crosling

Daniel Andrews has again refused to apologise to a female Liberal MP that he called a “halfwit grub”.

The Premier made the jibe at Cindy McLeish in parliament on Tuesday before withdrawing the comment because it was deemed unparliamentary.

The remark was made during debate over the opposition’s lobbyist bill, where Ms McLeish raised concerns over Labor MP Kat Theophanous voting on the proposed legislation.

This was in response to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission earlier this year finding Ms Theophanous’ father, Theo Theophanous, improperly lobbied in favour of a $31bn proposal to develop a large education, residential and employment district in Melbourne’s west.

Liberal MP Cindy McLeish and Opposition leader John Pesutto have demanded an apology. Picture: David Crosling

In a fiery Question Time a short time later, Mr Andrews said: “There was nothing to apologise for. I was defending the Member for Northcote (Ms Theophanous).”

On Wednesday, opposition leader John Pesutto called on Mr Andrews to apologise for the “abusive” comments.

“Those comments are as despicable today as there were yesterday,” he said.

“The Premier begrudgingly, with a great deal of resistance, withdrew those comments but has not apologised.

“It’s important that he, as Premier, lives up to the standards and expectations of the Victorian people in terms of behaviour.”

Mr Pesutto also hit out at several Labor MPs supporting Mr Andrews’ comments.

“He has his own Minister for Women supporting the use of that hateful language. Natalie Hutchins yesterday in parliament had a chance to address those comments. Instead of calling them out as every Victorian would, she doubled down and said she supported the Premier in comments that were hateful and abusive,” he said.

Mr Andrews on Wednesday refused to say whether he would apologise to Ms McLeish.

“I’ve got absolutely nothing to say about this matter other than what I said in question time yesterday,” he said.

“The comments were withdrawn in accordance with the rules of the house, and I have nothing further to add.”

Asked if that withdrawal was an acknowledgment the comments weren’t appropriate, Mr Andrews said: “Well, you can draw your own conclusions. I’m not here to do that for you.”

Greens leader Samantha Ratnam said it was “really disappointing” to hear such comments in parliament.

“The very least the Premier can do is apologise for those comments,” she said.

“I don’t think there’s any justification for that type of behaviour.

“Our parliament should be setting the standard for our workplace behaviour and it’s anything but with instances like we saw yesterday in the (Legislative) Assembly.

“We should be setting the standard, not lowering the bar.”