Sue Hickey has hit out at Eric Abetz again after he denied claims of ‘disgusting remarks’ about Brittany Higgins
Prime Minister Scott Morrison will get involved after Premier Peter Gutwein phoned in the stoush between Speaker Sue Hickey and Senator Abetz over alleged comments about two rape victims. LATEST >>
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PREMIER Peter Gutwein has written to the Prime Minister, asking him to look into allegations made in state parliament that Liberal Senator Eric Abetz “slut-shamed” an alleged sexual assault victim.
Senator Abetz vehemently denied claims aired by Speaker Sue Hickey, who called for the senator to be disendorsed.
In two statements to the Tasmanian House of Assembly on Wednesday, Ms Hickey outed Senator Abetz as the senior Liberal MP she says made derogatory comments about former federal Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins.
Ms Higgins has alleged she was raped in the Parliament House office of Defence Minister Linda Reynolds in 2019.
Ms Hickey said she raised the matter, and rape claims made against the federal Attorney-General, with Senator Abetz at a Hobart council citizenship ceremony this month.
“The senator quickly responded that ‘yes it was the First Law Officer of the Nation, Christian Porter, but not to worry, the woman is dead and the law will protect him’,” Ms Hickey told parliament.
“He then said ‘as for that Higgins girl, anybody so disgustingly drunk who would sleep with anybody could have slept with one of our spies and put the security of the nation at risk’.”
Ms Hickey said she was appalled by his comments.
“My immediate thoughts were, what if this girl’s drink had been spiked?” she said.
“And even if she was drunk, wouldn’t a caring man see that she got home safely?
“No one, no matter how drunk or what they wear or where they walk at night, deserves to be sexually assaulted.
“I accept that these are deeply held views by the senator however, they are not endorsed by our wider community, who view this judgment as slut shaming.”
Ms Hickey, who was told at the weekend she would not be preselected by the Liberals, called for Senator Abetz to be disendorsed.
Senator Abetz “categorically denied” Ms Hickey’s claims and described them as “defamatory” and motivated by revenge for losing preselection.
“I reject outright her suggestions and gross mischaracterisation of our discussion,” he said in a statement.
“Allegations of rape are serious matters and have always been treated as such by me.
“Sexual assault is an issue on which I’ve been consistently outspoken, including domestic violence.
“Ms Hickey’s suggestions otherwise is simply false.”
Ms Hickey returned fire after a lunch adjournment, making another statement from the Speaker’s chair accusing the senator of “grubby politics”.
“This is why the women of Australia are angry. This is why they do not speak out. I have witnesses who can testify that I told them of the discussion at the event and immediately afterwards,” she said.
“No amount of denial by the senator will remove this conversation from our community dialogue or my clear and concise memory of the revulsion I felt at the time.
“His spiteful accusations today cannot be used as an excuse or a distraction.
“I call on him to be honest and apologise for his misogynistic views, no matter how deeply he believes them.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the comments were “utterly repugnant”, but noted Senator Abetz had denied making them.
Mr Morrison was asked about the remarks in Question Time, and said: “What I can only refer to is the absolute denial of those statements by Senator Abetz.”
“The actual comments that have been quoted, Mr Speaker, of course, the government would find completely and utterly repugnant.”
Premier Peter Gutwein told parliament he was concerned about the remarks.
Peter Gutwein sniffs the wind, then sinks the slipper into Abetz (and Morrison) #politashttps://t.co/lkOAQVPe9W
— Ben Lohberger (@BenGlenHuon) March 24, 2021
“I have spoken directly with both the state director and also with Senator Abetz, who has categorically denied the allegations,” Mr Gutwein said.
“As Ms Hickey has outlined her allegations in more detail in the Parliament, this afternoon I have written to the Prime Minister and requested that he consider the matters raised.”
LIVE COVERAGE FROM 2.50PM, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24:
SPEAKER Sue Hickey has delivered a blistering broadside to Senator Eric Abetz, saying his denials of the claims against him are untrue.
Ms Hickey made a further statement to the House of Assembly, rejecting the Senator’s denial of this morning.
“As can be expected by Senator Abetz, he has responded with denial and very grubby politics. I am highly offended by this misleading and mischievous commentary,” she said.
“This is why the women of Australia are angry. This is why they do not speak out. I have witnesses who can testify that I told them of the discussion at the event and immediately afterwards.
“No amount of denial by the Senator will remove this conversation from our community dialogue or my clear and concise memory of the revulsion I felt at the time.
“His spiteful accusations today cannot be used as an excuse or a distraction. I call on him to be honest and apologise for his misogynistic views, no matter how deeply he believes them.
The full text of Ms Hickey’s second statement:
“Further to my statement this morning Senator Eric Abetz has publicly accused me of making false allegations. In other words lying about his comments.
“Instead he suggested I made the statement out of revenge. As can be expected by Senator Abetz, he has responded with denial and very grubby politics. I am highly offended by this misleading and mischievous commentary.
“This is why the women of Australia are angry. This is why they do not speak out. I have witnesses who can testify that I told them of the discussion at the event and immediately afterwards.
“Since that date I have also discussed it with others, including senior members of the party in both the political and administrative wing a couple of weeks ago, well prior to my removal from preselection discussions.
“The reason I raised it today was because I saw the ABC Four Corners story regarding the inability of the security guards to intervene in the Higgins incident, and I felt compelled to call this out.
Speaker Sue Hickey has fired back at Senator Eric Abetz this afternoon. “He has responded with denial and very grubby politicsâ€. She also says she had discussed the alleged conversation with senior party members prior to her removal from the Liberal party. #politashttps://t.co/057O22cHNa
— Judy Augustine (@JudyAugustine) March 24, 2021
“No amount of denial by the Senator will remove this conversation from our community dialogue or my clear and concise memory of the revulsion I felt at the time.
“His spiteful accusations today cannot be used as an excuse or a distraction. I call on him to be honest and apologise for his misogynistic views, no matter how deeply he believes them.
“He argues that his record of assisting the establishment of a women’s shelter before he entered politics demonstrates his support for women. I remind the House that Senator Abetz was first elected in 1994 – some 27 years ago – and this comment is evidence that he’s completely out of touch with current dialogue nationwide.
“My kind offer to buy him a coffee recently should not be taken as an endorsement of his comments.
“I have called out Senator Abetz’s behaviour on the public record on many occasions and I stand by my comments, I will not be making any further comments on this tawdry affair.”
UPDATE 2.40PM:
SCOTT Morrison said the comments were “utterly repugnant”, but noted Senator Abetz had categorically denied making them.
The Prime Minister was asked about the remarks in Question Time, and said: “What I can only refer to is the absolute denial of those statements by Senator Abetz.”
Mr Morrison said he was not a part of the conversation, and that only two people were party to the conversation.
He said Senator Abetz would continue to serve in his roles on parliamentary committees, and had been a “significant contributor” to the Senate and had previously been a minister.
“He has served his state and he has served his nation,” Mr Morrison said.
“The actual comments that have been quoted, Mr Speaker, of course, the government would find completely and utterly repugnant.”
UPDATE, 1.05PM:
SENATOR Eric Abetz has “categorically denied” Sue Hickey’s claims about making derogatory remarks about rape victim Brittany Higgins, describing them as “defamatory”.
“I reject outright her suggestions and gross mischaracterisation of our discussion,” he said in a statement today.
“Allegations of rape are serious matters and have always been treated as such by me,” Senator Abetz said.
“Sexual assault is an issue on which I’ve been consistently outspoken including domestic violence.
“Ms Hickey’s suggestions otherwise is simply false.”
Senator Abetz added that it was “noteworthy Ms Hickey has made her assertions some three weeks after she alleges they occurred”.
“At no stage has Ms Hickey ever raised concerns with me about any of our conversations.
“Indeed, a fortnight later when we had a chance meeting in a coffee shop in Launceston, Ms Hickey actually offered to buy me a cup of coffee which I politely declined because I was about to meet someone.
“What has changed? The Premier telling her on Sunday she was no longer wanted by the Liberal Party.”
The senator accused Ms Hickey of “trying to destroy the party” on the way out the door, and added “she has demeaned all her former female Liberal colleagues of parliament and especially the Attorney-General, the membership which initially endorsed her and even “unknown people”.
Senator Abetz noted he had been on the inaugural committee of a women’s shelter and was its honorary legal adviser for a decade prior to entering parliament.
UPDATE, 11.35AM Wednesday March 24:
Senator Eric Abetz has categorically denied allegations about former federal staffer Brittany Higgins, calling Speaker Sue Hickey’s claims ‘mischievous’.
Speaking in a Defence estimates hearing in Parliament House today, Senator Abetz said he had drafted a statement “categorically denying the mischievous assertions made under parliamentary privilege” and his full response would be released shortly.
“To suggest that I would make light of a rape allegation is horrendous,” he said.
Labor senator Penny Wong questioned Senator Abetz and Minister for Women Marise Payne about the remarks, saying the alleged comments about Ms Higgins were a “deeply distressing thing for anybody to say”.
Senator Wong asked Senator Payne if Senator Abetz’ alleged remarks about Mr Porter was the government’s position. The Minister responded: “Of course it is not.”
UPDATE 11.10am: Premier Peter Gutwein says he is concerned about remarks attributed to Liberal Senator Eric Abetz about sexual assault victim Brittany Higgins.
Labor leader Rebecca White asked Mr Gutwein for a response during Question Time today.
She called on him to condemn the remarks. Mr Gutwein said he had not yet spoken to Senator Abetz.
“If what has been reported was said, it is appalling,” he said.
“Based on what I have heard, I will have a chat with both the party secretariat and the Senator.”
Ms White said the comments needed to be investigated by the party and the Prime Minister, who she accused of “crocodile tears” during his press conference on Tuesday.
11AM:
LIBERAL Senator Eric Abetz has been identified as the source of alleged comments a young Liberal staffer was to blame for being raped.
At the opening of parliament on Wednesday, Speaker Sue Hickey made a statement to the house saying she wished to set the record straight about comments she made on Hobart radio on Tuesday.
Ms Hickey claimed she had been appalled by remarks made by a sitting MP about former federal staffer Brittany Higgins.
Ms Higgins has alleged she was raped in the Parliament House office of Defence Minister Linda Reynolds in 2019.
“Recently a high-profile Liberal spoke to me about the Higgins matter and said if a young girl is going to get so disgustingly drunk she can sleep with anybody, she could sleep with a spy and our national security is at risk,” Ms Hickey said during her radio interview.
Ms Hickey said she took her concerns about the comments to Premier Peter Gutwein.
“And I went away and actually told the Premier how sick I felt about that,” she said.
Ms Hickey said she accepted Mr Abetz held the views deeply, but wider society did not.
She urged Liberal party preselectors to pass Senator Abetz by.
“If we want the views of our parliament to reflect the views of our community, I strongly urge those preselectors not to reward bad behaviour,” she told parliament.
Mr Abetz has been contacted for comment.
Sue Hickey’s statement in full:
“I make this statement to the House not as Speaker but as independent Member for Clark, to clarify statements I made in the same capacity on ABC radio yesterday.
It appears that these statements may have inadvertently brought into question the integrity of Senator Jono Duniam.
“I have an obligation to set the record straight.
“On Monday the first of March at the Hobart City Council Citizenship Ceremony, I casually asked the Hon. Senator Eric Abetz if the Minister allegedly accused of the alleged rape that occurred around 30 years ago was the Hon. Christian Porter MP.
“The Senator quickly responded that “yes it was the First Law Officer of the Nation, Christian Porter, but not to worry, the woman is dead and the law will protect him.”
“He then said “as for that Higgins girl, anybody so disgustingly drunk who would sleep with anybody could have slept with one of our spies and put the security of the nation at risk.”
“My immediate thoughts were – what if this girl’s drink had been spiked?
“And even if she was drunk, wouldn’t a caring man see that she got home safely?
“No one, no matter how drunk or what they wear or where they walk at night, deserves to be sexually assaulted.
“I say to the Senator on this matter, Ms Higgins did not choose to sleep with this man, she was raped.
“I asked Senator Abetz why hadn’t the security guards stepped in, knowing how drunk she appeared to be?
“He responded very abruptly, that if any security member dared to question the validity of access to the parliament by anyone who held a security pass, they should be sacked.
I felt sick, knowing that the last line of protection for this young woman, was not able to be provided due to the practices and protocols of parliament.
“I accept that these are deeply held views by the Senator, however they are not endorsed by our wider community, who view this judgment as slut shaming.
“I know that there are many good men not only in our community, but also in our Liberal Party, who would also find these comments completely unacceptable and out of touch.
Senate positions are highly coveted and the Selection Process is very carefully managed by a select group of Liberals.
“If we want the views of our parliament to reflect the views of our community, I respectfully suggest that these Selectors have an obligation to not reward poor behaviour.
EARLIER:
SPEAKER Sue Hickey has continued her onslaught on her former party, saying she had been appalled by remarks made by a Tasmanian Liberal politician about former federal staffer Brittany Higgins.
Ms Higgins has alleged she was raped in the Parliament House office of Defence Minister Linda Reynolds in 2019.
“Recently a high-profile Liberal spoke to me about the Higgins matter and said if a young girl is going to get so disgustingly drunk she can sleep with anybody, she could sleep with a spy and our national security is at risk,” Ms Hickey said.
In an interview on ABC radio on Tuesday morning Ms Hickey said she was appalled by the comments.
“My immediate thought was – oh how disgusting, this is a young girl,” she said.
‘Yes, she’s drunk too much but maybe she had her drink spiked? Even if she’s drunk too much, did she deserve to be raped?
“See, this is the culture, this is the attitude.”
Ms Hickey did not name the politician.
Ms Hickey said she took her concerns about the comments to Premier Peter Gutwein.
“And I went away and actually told the Premier how sick I felt about that,” she said.
Comment was sought from Mr Gutwein.
Tuesday, March 23, 2021:
MPs slam Premier over TAFE reforms
PREMIER Peter Gutwein will not commit to donation law reform before the next state election.
Question Time on Tuesday was dominated by questions from Labor to the Premier over his TAFE reforms.
Greens leader Cassy O’Connor asked Mr Gutwein whether electoral reform was a government priority or whether the Liberal’s next election campaign would be bankrolled by gambling interests ahead of poker machine law reforms.
Mr Gutwein did not address the question, but has previously committed to reforming the state’s notoriously lax laws surrounding electoral donations.
Talk of an early election has put the passage of as-yet unseen legislation in doubt.
“As I have said very clearly, I have an open mind. Tasmania will have an election when it needs one,” he said.
Shadow Attorney-General Ella Haddad said Tasmanians wanted the secrecy surrounding donations to end.
“The minority Gutwein government looks set to again break its promise by refusing to commit to bring urgently required political donation law reform before the state parliament,” she said.
Tuesday was the first parliamentary sitting day for the Gutwein minority government.
Neither a vote of no-confidence motion, or a move against Ms Hickey in her role as speaker eventuated in the first few hours of sitting time.
Labor leader Rebecca White said the government was in disarray.
“You know that you have utterly failed and betrayed Tasmanians in relation to health, to housing, to the delivery of important infrastructure and now with your plan to wreck TAFE,” she said.
“You have lost control and plunged Tasmania into minority government.”
Huon Valley Council news
By Jessica Howard
AFTER four years in the top job, the general manager of the Huon Valley Council has resigned.
The council appointed Emilio Reale, the former director of city services and infrastructure at the Glenorchy City Council, as its general manager in February 2017.
Huon Valley Council had been looking for someone to fill the role, which attracted a salary package in 2018-19 of $200,000– $220,000, after then commissioner Adriana Taylor dismissed former general manager Simone Watson.
Mr Reale had been selected from a pool of applicants from around Australia.
A spokeswoman said the council did not wish to comment on the general manager’s resignation at this stage, but would issue a media release at a later time.
Protesters protest protest laws
By David Killick
DEMONSTRATORS have held a silent vigil to oppose the government’s anti-protest laws, which are due to be considered by the Legislative Council on Wednesday.
Almost 200 people turned out for the event on parliament Lawns, before a vigil along the front of Parliament House.
The government’s anti-protest laws, said to be the toughest in the nation, were rejected by the High Court in 2017 before a revised version was passed by the House of Assembly in 2019.
The changes add new offences relating to trespassing on business premises as well as an offence relating to obstructing public thoroughfares to workplaces with jail terms of up to four years.
READ MORE:
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Protest organiser Hugh Nicklason described the laws as “draconian and authoritarian”.
“Protest is how we get progress. Protests is how we fix issues that our society has.
“Protest is part of our social fabric. Protesting is how we prevented the Franklin Dam from being built, protesting is how we have saved some of our forests — not all of them, a lot of them have been cut up into pulp — protesting is how we got women and first nations people’s the vote.
“Impacting businesses is a fundamental part of protesting quite often the people that have all the power are the people that run the businesses and their friends behind us in parliament, are the ones that are trying to do them a favour by shutting down our ability to protest.
He said he was protesting because of his concern that direct action on climate change would be targeted by the laws.
“We’re in the midst of a climate catastrophe. We cannot be putting on anti-protest laws that lock up climate activists in the middle of in the middle of the end of the world, almost.
“That is ridiculous.”
Greens leader Cassy O’Connor backed the protesters.
“This is a fantastic demonstration of democracy in action,” she said.
“You have people here of all ages, but particularly young people standing up for their right to peaceful protest.
“They recognise that the laws the Liberals have parked in the upper house are the most draconian and democratic anti protest laws in the country and they are not prepared or not prepared to take this sitting down.
Multiple government MPs, including police Minister Mark Shelton and Attorney-General Elise Archer slipped through the vigil unrecognised.
Six organisations – Civil Liberties Australia, Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, Amnesty International Australia, Unions Tasmania, Human Rights Law Centre and the Tasmanian Council for Social Service – wrote a joint letter to Legislative Councillors asking they vote against the proposed laws because they are “undemocratic, illiberal, unjust, dangerous and technically flawed.”
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