Gutwein says Abetz claims are a matter for Prime Minister
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has backed Eric Abetz over the Brittany Higgins saga, indicating he will not take further action on Sue Hickey’s claims following a letter from Tasmania’s premier. LATEST >>
Tasmania
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SCOTT Morrison has backed Eric Abetz, indicating he will not take further action on Sue Hickey’s claims following Premier Peter Gutwein’s letter.
The Prime Minister told ABC radio the Premier had not added any further information regarding Ms Hickey’s claim in his letter.
Mr Morrison said Senator Abetz had “absolutely denied” he made the “appalling” remarks about Brittany Higgins and Christian Porter in a conversation with Ms Hickey.
“I would find those sorts of comments, as I’m sure anyone would be, completely appalling,” he said.
“But Senator Abetz, who is a longstanding member of the Senate, he’s a longstanding figure in public life and has a strong record when it comes to addressing these issues very seriously, has absolutely denied that.”
Regarding the Premier’s letter, Mr Morrison said: “He’s just raised the matter and saying it was raised with him. But he has no additional information and he doesn’t corroborate or confirm any of these … He’s just simply mentioned this matter to me. But Senator Abetz’s clear denial of that, I think, is a very strong one.”
ABC host Sabra Lane asked: “Why do you believe him and not the female Tasmanian politician?”
Mr Morrison responded: “Well, I was not a party to the conversation. And so, you know, in this country, if people make allegations, they can make them.”
“This has been strenuously denied. And so I think it would be very unfair to draw a conclusion here when, you know, the facts are in such dispute.”
Mr Morrison sidestepped the question when asked in Question Time if he had spoken to Senator Abetz about his conversation with Ms Hickey, but reiterated that the senator had denied the claims.
EARLIER:
CLAIMS that Senator Eric Abetz made “appalling” comments about a sexual assault victim were a matter for the federal government, Premier Peter Gutwein says.
Speaker Sue Hickey claimed in parliament on Wednesday that Liberal Senator Eric Abetz said while speaking about Brittany Higgins: “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’.
Senator Abetz vehemently denied claims he made derogatory comments about the former federal Liberal staffer.
Mr Gutwein has written to Prime Minister Scott Morrison asking him to look into Ms Hickey’s claims.
In parliament on Thursday, Labor leader Rebecca White asked Mr Gutwein whether the believed Ms Hickey’s account or Senator Abetz’s.
Ms White described the comments as “sickening”.
Mr Gutwein said Senator Abetz had been a “longstanding servant of Tasmania” and both he and Ms Hickey had given vehement accounts which were at odds.
But he would not be drawn on who he believed.
“I want not a party to this conversation and I cannot act as judge, jury or executioner,” he said.
“If this matter is to go forward in any way shape or form then it is a matter for the federal parliament, not the state parliament.
“What I have said to the prime minister is that he take any action he sees as appropriate given the allegations relate to a member of the federal parliament.”
Mr Gutwein said he stood by comments in his State of the State address about listening to the voices of women.
“I think there is a paradigm shift in this country and a shift that is long overdue,” he said.
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