What Eva Lawler said to the Opposition staffer

THE Opposition staffer at the centre of a bullying claim against Infrastructure Minister Eva Lawler has revealed what was said in that Parliament lift

Infrastructure Minister Eva Lawler … ‘I made a flippant joke I thought was funny’

INFRASTRUCTURE Minister Eva Lawler said “quick, grab her and bash her” in relation to a senior Opposition staffer.

Opposition Leader Gary Higgins’ chief of staff Sharon Mulholland said she was “reluctantly” issuing a statement in order to “set the record straight”.

It was previously reported that Ms Lawler had made an offensive statement towards the then-unnamed staffer in a lift in March.

Ms Mulholland said Ms Lawler was with another Labor minister and staffer when she “incited violence” against her.

The two men did nothing, she said.

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Ms Lawler said she was “not a bully”.

She claimed she had joked the Labor trio should “get” Ms Mulholland.

Opposition staffer Sharon Mulholland

“I don’t dispute Ms Mullholland contention about which words were spoken, but as I have said at no stage did I intend to cause offence,” Ms Lawler said.

“I made a flippant joke I thought was funny, obviously it wasn’t received that way by the opposition staffer and as soon as I found out I apologised face-to-face to that staffer.”

“I truly am not a bully.”

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But Ms Mulholland said Ms Lawler’s apology, made only after she was directed to do so, was “disingenuous”.

“I did not find this a laughing matter,” she said.

“This further exacerbated the situation and to this date despite the government not disputing the incident and the harm she has caused me, no action has been taken.”

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Ms Mulholland said Ms Lawler’s conduct contravened the Ministerial Code of Conduct and the Government insurer has accepted her workers’ compensation claim.

She said she was very disappointed at the lack of action taken by the Government.

“Obviously workplace health and safety is not as important to this Government as it is to me,” she said.

“Due to no action or advice to the contrary, I can only conclude the Government thinks to incite violence against others is okay and further that it is acceptable to make a joke of it.

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Opposition Leader Gary Higgins on Tuesday said Ms Mulholland had suffered “trauma” as a result of Ms Lawler’s comment.

He called on Chief Minister Michael Gunner to sack Ms Lawler from her ministerial role.

Mr Gunner has been approached for comment.