‘Growling’: Senator denies making dog noises while Jacqui Lambie speaking
A senator has responded to shock allegations he disrespected Jacqui Lambie by growling – telling parliament it’s all a big misunderstanding.
A senator accused of growling and making dog noises while Jacqui Lambie was speaking in parliament has apologised for interjecting but denies making any animal sounds.
Fiery scenes erupted during Question Time on Tuesday as two female senators rose to call out the “inappropriate” behaviour.
They claimed it took place in one section of the chamber while Senator Lambie was on her feet.
It was not immediately clear who was responsible, but Victorian Senator David Van told NCA NewsWire he had been interjecting and it may have been misheard.
“I have a low voice and I was wearing a mask,” he said.
“I was not growling or making any animal noise, I would never be that disrespectful.”
Senator Van made an apology speech in the Senate for interjecting.
“While I do not accept the characterisation of my interjections in the manner that was raised, I do regret the interjections and I apologise to Senator Lambie and the Senate unreservedly,” he said in his speech.
“I commit to holding myself to the highest standards in the future.”
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young, who was visibly outraged, earlier called out what she believed to be growling, saying “it happened”.
“I don’t think it’s appropriate given what has been handed down today to have growling and dog noises coming from this side of the chamber while a female member in this place is on her feet,” she said.
“It happened. I don’t know who is responsible for it, but it is inappropriate.
“And if we are going to change culture and the top, that means all of us.”
Labor Senator Penny Wong then rose to back Senator Hanson-Young’s claim.
“I in fact said who’s growling,” she said.
“And I would like to ask one of the senators at that end, perhaps to do the right thing and withdraw.
“At least fess up. Gee you’re tough aren’t you … I mean, growling.”
Senate President Slade Brockman said he hadn’t heard the growling.
“If it occurred, I would ask the senator involved to reflect upon it and to withdraw if they did do what has been stated,” he said.
The incident came just three hours after the release of a damning report into the parliamentary workplace, which found one in three people had experienced sexual harassment.
Hundreds of staff were interviewed during the investigation by Sexual Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins, which was established after the alleged rape of Brittany Higgins.
Speaking after the incident, Simon Birmingham, the leader of the government in the Senate, said he had asked the whip to investigate who was responsible.
“If that’s what has happened it’s obviously inappropriate and anybody who did so should apologise and make sure they reflect on their conduct to do better in the future,” he told NCA NewsWire.
When asked about the timing, he said: “The report is a wake-up call to everybody”.
Senator Lambie had been asking questions about Tasmania’s housing crisis when the alleged incident happened.
“The average Hobart renter is paying nearly a third of their income to keep a roof over their head and that’s on a good day,” she said.
“We’ve got people sleeping in their cars, families are camping out in friend’s living rooms, meanwhile, your government is running another talkfest inquiry on housing affordability.”
Senator Birmingham answered that the government had pursued various policies and investments to support access to housing across Australia.
Senator Lambie pressed on with two further questions, firing up about there being thousands of people on the social housing waitlist.
“My staff are taking calls from people who are at their wit’s end,” she said.
“And we have to tell them there’s no there’s nothing we can do.
“The housing just isn’t there. Your government holds the purse strings minister, we’ve seen this through Covid.
“This is happening on your watch, you have the power to turn this around.
“Why aren’t you paying for the social housing we know that we need?”