Tasmanian federal Liberals say ‘bullying, harassment’ claims against conservative Brendan Blomeley are ‘serious’

Allegations of bullying, intimidation and sexual harassment against an exiled senior Liberal have split the party in Tasmania.

Clarence Mayor Brendan Blomeley. Picture: Chris Kidd

Allegations of bullying, intimidation and sexual harassment against an exiled senior Liberal have split the party, with federal elected representatives urging a “serious” response despite the Tasmanian state government dismissing the claims.

Greens state MP Cassy O’Connor on Thursday night told parliament of complaints by Liberal women against Brendan Blomeley, Mayor of Clarence and a key conservative Liberal figure until his recent expulsion.

Under parliamentary privilege, Ms O’Connor also accused former Liberal senator Eric Abetz, now a senior state cabinet minister, of knowing about and “condoning” Mr Blomeley’s ­alleged behaviour.

“He (Mr Abetz) has been using his position of power to defend Mr Blomeley, despite knowing about this appalling conduct,” Ms O’Connor told parliament.

On Friday morning, the state government dismissed Ms O’Connor’s allegations as a “disappointing and regrettable … transformation of the Legislative Council into a coward’s castle”.

However, hours later, Tasmania’s federal parliamentary team provided a statement to The Weekend Australian responding to Ms O’Connor’s decision to make the claims public. “The claims raised by Ms O’Connor are serious and must be treated that way,” said the statement by the state’s Liberal senators and MPs. “While we note Mr Blomeley is no longer a member of our party, the Liberal Party must be a safe place for all members.”

The Weekend Australian is not suggesting the allegations are true, only that they have been made. Sources say Mr Blomeley, along with fellow arch conservative Mr Abetz, has been locked in a prolonged power struggle with other party figures for control of the party’s state executive.

Last year, Mr Blomeley narrowly failed to unseat party president Michael McKenna, who in April this year expelled Mr Blomeley from the party after he ­initially failed to rule out running as an independent.

Tasmanian Liberal minister Eric Abetz. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Speaking in parliament, Ms O’Connor alleged Mr Blomeley had “exploded” at a female Greens councillor and that this was part of a “pattern of behaviour by Mr Blomeley … over the years”. “I have heard further awful stories recounted by other women who have fallen foul of his uncontrolled temper in the work environment,” she said.

“There are still women in the Liberal Party who do not feel safe. I have been told that Mr Blomeley tried to intimidate and bully elected representatives within his party – Liberal women.

“This is not just scuttlebutt on the street … There is an active complaint within the Liberal Party executive about Mr Blomeley and his conduct towards ­Liberal women, including intimidation, bullying and sexual harassment.”

The Weekend Australian has spoken to several Liberal women who have confirmed they allege witnessing behaviour described by Ms O’Connor. One Liberal woman told The Weekend Australian she was brought to tears by Mr Blomeley at a party function. Another said she had witnessed Mr Blomeley “yelling loudly in women’s faces” and ­engaging in “aggressive, intimidating” behaviour towards women over “many years”.

She had witnessed him making inappropriate, sexualised comments about a woman’s ­appearance, she said.

Mr Blomeley declined to comment on any of the allegations, while Mr Abetz did not respond to a request for comment. The Weekend Australian is not suggesting the allegations are true, only that they have been made.

Ms O’Connor called on Premier Jeremy Rockliff to act on the allegations, however he did not respond to requests for comment.

Liberal cabinet minister Felix Ellis said: “If anyone does have concerns of this nature, it’s important to be reporting them to the relevant authorities.”