Perin Davey helped write new draft drug and alcohol policy, as Senator under fire for drinking

A Senator captured last week slurring her speech at a Senate hearing helped write federal parliament’s new draft drug and alcohol policy, it has been revealed.

The deputy leader of the Nationals Party who was filmed slurring her words at a recent Senate estimates is part of the group tasked with forming and writing federal parliament’s new alcohol and drugs policy.

NSW Senator Perin Davey admitted to drinking two glasses of red wine at a staff function before a Senate hearing on February 13, where she was caught on camera slurring her speech and speaking in a jumbled manner.

According to a draft of the policy leaked to the Sydney Morning Herald, Senator Davey could have been in breach of the policy if it had been in place at the time.

Senator Perin Davey helped write a draft federal parliament’s new alcohol and drug policy. NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The draft is still being finalised by the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service according to the Sydney Morning Herald and is in response to the ‘Set the Standard’ report, written by former Sex Discrimination commissioner Kate Jenkins.

Section 5.11 of the draft reportedly states “alcohol or legal drug consumption should not adversely affect an individual’s work performance or official conduct,” a standard Ms Davey would potentially have breached if it was currently in place.

Another section of the draft states MPs must “ensure that they are fit for duty and free from impairment from alcohol or legal drugs”.

Section 9.3 states disciplinary action, “including sanctions” can be applied in situations where deemed necessary.

“An individual who fails to comply with their responsibilities under this policy may be referred to an appropriate body and subject to disciplinary action,” the section reads, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

The section also notes support in the form of a “referral to rehabilitation or counselling and assistance in returning to work,” can be provided in conjunction with sanctions.

Ms Davey told NCA Newswire she is sorry that the focus of the hearing is “not on what was said, but how it was said”.

“As you can imagine, I am mortified by how this is being reported. Yes I had a couple of glasses of wine and unfortunately the focus is on my enunciation rather than what I was actually asking about during the 12 minutes of questioning of Creative Australia at 9pm at night after a 14-hour day,” she said.

Ms Davey said the $23 million that was spent in the regions in 2022 to 2023 and the increase in regionally based businesses able to access multi-year funding should have been the focus of the hearing.

The Senator said she remains committed to the processes of the Parliamentary Leadership Taskforce, the group responsible for overseeing the implementation of the recommendations in the ‘Set the Standard’ report.

Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce was filmed laying drunk on a Canberra footpath but has denied having a problem with alcohol. Picture: Daily Mail Australia

The leaking of the draft document follows Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce’s revelation that he has given up alcohol after he was filmed laying drunk on a Canberra footpath and shouting into his phone.

Mr Joyce has since denied having an alcohol problem and refused to comment on Ms Davey’s actions.

“I have given up two things for Lent, one is drinking, and the other one is talking about other people in regards to that,” Mr Joyce told Sunrise on Monday. “I will let other people deal with the issues that are personal to them. I won’t be adding commentary to it.”

Barnaby Joyce during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

On Monday, Anthony Albanese urged politicians to use their “common sense” when drinking at parliamentary events.

“There’s no alcohol in my office. Tim Gartrell put that in place a long time ago, as my chief of staff,” he said.

“So, there are events in Parliament House, and bit of common sense should apply. People are adults and they should behave responsibly, like any adult should.”

Nationals leader David Littleproud has backed Ms Davey’s assertion that she was not intoxicated during the environment and communications legislation hearing.

“We’re not without faults in the National Party,” he told Sky.

“We all slur our words from time to time and I think this is a bit of an overreach.”

Davey has been contacted for comment.

Originally published as Perin Davey helped write new draft drug and alcohol policy, as Senator under fire for drinking