Departure of ‘sexist pig’ staffer ‘two years too late’: Cassy O’Connor

Tasmanian Greens leader says the departure of a Liberal staffer she accused of making ‘vile’ remarks about her was overdue.

Former Liberals staffer Andrew Hudgson, left, who quit after 'vile' insult claim by Tasmanian Greens senator Cassy O'Connor, right. Pictures: Supplied

Tasmanian Greens leader Cassy O’Connor says the departure of a federal Liberal staffer she accused of making “vile” remarks about her is “a good result but two years too late”.

Andrew Hudgson overnight on Wednesday left his job as media adviser to federal Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar, after Ms O’Connor raised allegations about his conduct in state parliament.

Under parliamentary privilege, Ms O’Connor named Mr Hudgson as a “sexist pig of a man” known for repeatedly making inappropriate comments to, and about, women.

Ms O’Connor told the House of Assembly that Mr Hudgson, then a senior state government media adviser, referred to her as a ‘meth-head c--t’, as he walked across Hobart’s parliamentary lawns on February 1, 2019.

“Imagine hating women so much, you’d say that audibly about a woman you don’t know, who also happens to be an elected representative,” Ms O’Connor told parliament.

Mr Hudgson, who on Thursday did not respond to requests for comment but in 2019 denied the allegation to a government investigation, left Mr Sukkar’s employment within hours of Ms O’Connor’s speech.

Greens leader Cassy O'Connor. Picture: David Killick

Mr Sukkar would not say whether Mr Hudgson was sacked or resigned. “After several historical allegations surfaced, the staff member has ceased employment with the (assistant minister’s) office,” a spokesman for Mr Sukkar said.

“The government was (previously) unaware of any allegations raised about the alleged behaviour of the staff member during their previous employment.”

Outside state parliament, Ms O’Connor welcomed Mr Hudgson’s departure from his role, but attacked the state process that had failed to lead to action against him in 2019.

“He went on instead to leave here, go back to work for the Morrison government for another two years,” she said. “So good result but two years too late in my view.”

Ms O’Connor told the House of Assembly she had not heard Mr Hudgson making offensive remarks to her, but that a Greens adviser, Alice Giblin, had heard them and made a formal complaint.

Ms Giblin’s complaint was investigated by a person appointed by the Department of Premier and Cabinet. The investigation report has not been released, even to Ms Giblin and Ms O’Connor.

However, then-Premier Will Hodgman wrote to Ms O’Connor saying the investigator had concluded the allegation was “not substantiated”.

Several other government media advisers, identified by Ms Giblin as walking alongside Mr Hudgson when he allegedly made the comments, “stated that he did not yell out or direct profanities towards Ms O’Connor”, Mr Hodgman wrote.

Mr Hodgman’s successor, Premier Peter Gutwein, said on Thursday that “the matter is now finished”. However, he invited all parties and independents to contribute to a review of how complaints about MPs and staffers are handled.