Former attorney-general Elise Archer denies groaning incident, claims she was not allowed to defend herself

After a series of leaked messages led to her resignation, Elise Archer has made claims about the groaning incident that landed her and other ministers in hot water last year. Latest.

Former Attorney-General Elise Archer says she wasn’t one of the ministers who audibly groaned when a question was asked on behalf of a victim-survivor of child sexual abuse in parliament last year, claiming she was made to take the heat for others.

Ms Archer resigned from parliament on Friday following allegations she’d bullied staff and sent messages demeaning her parliamentary colleagues.

Former Attorney-General Elise Archer in August. Picture: Chris Kidd.

On Saturday another of messages was leaked where Ms Archer said “Turn comment off please. Sick of victim survivors.”

Since then, Ms Archer said she was she’s breaking her silence on the groaning incident, back in March last year.

“I can now say it was not me who groaned,” Ms Archer said in a comment on her social media post about her resignation.

“Gutwein wouldn’t let me defend myself. Again I took the heat for others who didn’t own up.”

Elise Archer claims she took the heat for others on the groaning incident. Screenshot via Facebook.

Ms Archer’s claim was aired as part of a response to victim-survivor, Katrina Munting, who described the former MP’s most recent leaked message as “a slap in the face”.

Ms Archer apologised for the message.

“It was a quick incomplete message sent without checking to a staff member ti turn off comments as others were calling me a f and c word (sic),” she said.

“It should’ve added ‘…because attacking me.’ Im so very sorry the focus on me and selective texts is hurting people like yourself.

“If I was posting a public comment I’d read it before pressing send. These were private texts to staff that were done quickly which I wish I’d checked but no excuses.”

The Mercury is seeking comment from former Premier Peter Gutwein.

Revealed: ‘Shattered’ Elise Archer asked to resign over ‘unacceptable’ victim-survivor text

September 30, 2023, 6:30pm

A “shattered” Elise Archer says comments she made about victim survivors of child sexual abuse – which so upset Premier Jeremy Rockliff he asked for her resignation from the Liberal cabinet – were “taken out of context”.

In a WhatsApp chat, Ms Archer said: “Sick of victim survivors”.

It is understood that Mr Rockliff believed the remarks were deeply hurtful and harmful to victim survivors.

Leaked WhatsApp messages from Elise Archer. Picture: Supplied.

The government has confirmed it was the reference to victim survivors that led to his comments on Friday that he was “made aware of information in relation to remarks Ms Archer has made outside of what has already been reported”.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff announces the resignation of Attorney-General Elise Archer from parliament. Picture: Rob Burnett

“These remarks are unacceptable by any standard, and unequivocally fall short of the standards I expect of my ministers,” Mr Rockliff said.

“As a consequence of this, Ms Archer is no longer a member of my Cabinet.”

On Saturday, Ms Archer told the Mercury the comment had been “completely taken out of context”.

Attorney General Elise Archer resigns

“It was after a close family member, who is a victim survivor, was attacking me in the media which was a complete shock.

“That’s what was meant by my comment, as others had jumped on board to personally attack me.

“I have always been a huge advocate for victim survivors with all the law reform I’ve achieved and being responsible for the CoI. (Commission of Inquiry)

“These texts in isolation are so damaging when it was strictly a reference to that.

Archer dropped the resignation bombshell on Friday. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“If they are going to keep releasing texts it only proves they wanted me out of Cabinet.”

Ms Archer, who was Attorney-General and Justice Minister, is expected to officially resign from parliament on Monday.

“This has been devastating, my work was my life, but it’s clear to me the Premier and his office wanted me out,” she told the Mercury.

Sources close to Ms Archer say her texts were simply “letting off steam out of frustration” and she has been denied procedural fairness surrounding complaints against her.

“She’s been set up,” one source told the Sunday Tasmanian.

Elise Archer: The rise and fall of the long-time Attorney-General and conservative warrior

“There’s a high turnover of staff in her office because she carried the load in parliament with 75 per cent of the legislation and being leader of the house.

“She loved being Attorney-General and I think they thought she’d sit on the backbench.”

Mr Rockliff has delayed annual leave he was due to start next week and will not attend Saturday’s AFL grand final in Melbourne.

No decision has been made on whether the House of Assembly will resume as planned on October 17 where the government will not have the numbers and would most likely lose a vote of no confidence.

“The Premier is seeking advice in respect to the timeline of an election of a new Member of Parliament and will make his decision accordingly,” a government spokesman said.

Political analyst Professor Richard Herr cautioned against Mr Rockliff proroguing parliament.

“That would be a very serious act to prorogue parliament and have to restart a new session,” he said.

“The government is under a lot of pressure on several fronts and it will be a challenge to last until the next election is due.

“If there was an election now there would be a minority government but it’s not clear who would have the most seats.”

Election analyst Dr Kevin Bonham says there is “no chance” former Liberal speaker Sue Hickey, who quit the party and stood as an independent would replace Ms Archer.

“It is only Ms Archer’s votes in the recount and at the most she’d get 10 per cent of those.

Hobart alderman Simon Behrakis has announced he will contest the recount and thanked Ms Archer for her service to the people of Clark.

Liberal Party president Michael McKenna also thanked Ms Archer, who was Tasmania’s first female speaker.

“Elise was also a very hard working Member for Clark and I would like to thank her for her contribution to the community, the Tasmanian Parliament and the Liberal Party,” he said.

Former Liberal Premier Tony Rundle said he hoped Mr Rockliff “could find his way through this difficult conundrum and go his full term”.

“Apart from the dramas that have unfolded he’s led a reasonably successful government,” he said.

Originally published as Former attorney-general Elise Archer denies groaning incident, claims she was not allowed to defend herself