Minister Rene Hidding apologises to MLC Ruth Forrest after accusations of bullying at public dinner

A LONG-serving Tasmanian Upper House MP will today seek legal advice after she says she was bullied by a State Government minister at a function.WATCH THE VIDEO

A LONG-serving Tasmanian Upper House MP will today seek legal advice after she says she was bullied by a State Government minister at a function.

Infrastructure and Police Minister Rene Hidding resisted calls for his resignation yesterday after Murchison MLC Ruth Forrest said he “threatened, intimidated and bullied” her over a piece of legislation.

The altercation left Ms Forrest upset and angry she said.

Mr Hidding and Ms Forrest met late yesterday afternoon with the minister releasing a statement shortly after saying he had apologised and the pair had shaken hands.

Last night Ms Forrest said she would be seeking legal advice to consider her next steps.

“We shook hands and I will continue to work with the minister,” she said.

“But there is still the outstanding question as to whether there has been a breach of the ministerial code of conduct or the criminal code.

“I need to take advice on that.”

In the Legislative Council on Wednesday night Ms Forrest said Mr Hidding had warned her not to take part in delaying legislation to allow old rail corridors to be used for tourism projects, suggesting projects in her electorate would miss out on funding if the Bill was delayed.

“I do not appreciate being threatened, being coerced, intimidated, or having bullying tactics used, to try to brow beat me into supporting this,” she told Parliament.

Murchison MLC Ruth Forrest.

Infrastructure Minister Rene Hidding.

Elaborating on the incident yesterday, Ms Forrest said Mr Hidding sat in a vacant seat beside her during Tuesday night’s Commonwealth Parliamentary Association dinner and became “aggressive and intimidating” as he pressured her over the Bill.

“There are many other witnesses that were there that could vouch for the behaviour. I felt quite upset and angry afterwards, I got up and left the table after the minister left and some of my colleagues actually texted me after I left the room to check that I was OK,” Ms Forrest said.

“I’m a fairly forthright person, I stand up for myself, but I do not believe bullying in any setting is OK. This was clearly bullying, it was clearly intimidation and I won’t stand for it.”

Mr Hidding started the day describing his behaviour as “fair lobbying” but after a day of intense pressure said his behaviour was “unacceptable”.

Mr Hidding initially issued an email apology to Ms Forrest yesterday.

However, Mr Hidding said he was “absolutely justified” in speaking to Ms Forrest about the Bill, which would allow a number of key North-West tourism projects to secure Commonwealth funding.

“The cycleway between Wynyard and Cooee cannot occur if this legislation doesn’t go through,” he said.

“I wanted to be assured that she understood that an unnecessary delay on the Bill may have a material effect on the outcome of the funding application.

“It was fair lobbying done in a way which she took exception to, for which I have apologised. There is no question in my mind that I have breached any code of ethics.”

But after meeting Ms Forrest yesterday afternoon, Mr Hidding issued a further statement.

“I apologised in person for my unacceptable behaviour towards Ms Forrest on Tuesday night,” he said.

“It was a cordial meeting and, at the end of it, we shook hands on the basis that we can continue to work together for Tasmania into the future.”

Mr Hidding is a 20-year veteran of State Parliament and the longest-serving Liberal MP in the current Parliament.

Premier Will Hodgman rejected suggestions he should take action against Mr Hidding.

Opposition Leader Bryan Green said Mr Hidding had clearly breached the ministerial code of conduct, and might have committed an offence under the Criminal Code.

“Section 70 of the Criminal Code relates to interference of Parliament and unlawfully influencing members — the Premier knows this and needs to treat this matter very, very seriously,” Mr Green said.

“This cannot be fobbed off, it cannot be swept under the carpet as Mr Hodgman has done time and again when members of his Cabinet have made serious errors or lied about their conduct.”