NSW Well being Minister Brad Hazzard has used parliamentary privilege to accuse One Nation MP Mark Latham of bullying, because the pair clashed throughout a listening to.
“He has a historical past of bullying. My Lord,” Mr Hazzard instructed a price range estimates committee on Wednesday.
“(In) his personal ebook, he referred to all his colleagues as snakes, freaks, arseholes and sewer rats,” Mr Hazzard mentioned.
“This man shouldn’t be asking questions which transcend the cheap realm of this committee.
“This man shouldn’t be in parliament.”
Through the listening to, Mr Latham requested Michael Douglas, the previous deputy controller of public well being response for NSW Well being, a couple of perform held by the Nationals at parliament in 2021, which resulted in a number of optimistic COVID-19 infections.
NSW Well being Minister Brad Hazzard instructed the price range estimates listening to on Wednesday Mr Latham was ‘obsessed’ with bullying feminine MPs. Supply: AAP / DAN HIMBRECHTS
Mr Hazzard accused Mr Latham, who repeated the query, of being “fairly obsessed” and bullying Dr Douglas.
“There was a solution given – two really – he is fairly obsessed – not solely with bullying feminine MPs and ex MPs,” he mentioned beneath privilege.
“He is additionally obsessive about something to do with this.”
Mr Latham chuckled after Mr Hazzard failed to lift some extent of order and have the questions derailed.
The One Nation MP mentioned his query was pushed by Nationals MPs who complained ministers solely needed to isolate for twenty-four hours following a unfavorable check, whereas different attendees had been subjected to 14-day isolation durations.
The conflict between Mr Hazzard and Mr Latham got here after Mr Latham on Tuesday used parliamentary privilege to accuse Labor MP Anna Watson of being “paralytically drunk” two years in the past within the NSW Parliament bar.
“He bullied (Ms Watson) with some completely irrelevant remark,” Mr Hazzard mentioned.
Ms Watson mentioned Mr Latham’s declare, made throughout an estimates listening to on Tuesday, referred to occasions on August 27, 2020.
NSW One Nation MP Mark Latham. Supply: AAP / JOEL CARRETT/AAPIMAGE
“The day Mr Latham referred to, the Legislative Meeting (decrease home) was not sitting and out of doors of enterprise hours,” she mentioned.
“I used to be having a drink with Mr Latham within the Parliament Home bar. I assumed I had his ear and a shoulder to cry on that night.”
Ms Watson mentioned she had been beneath stress as a result of an in depth member of the family was going by a private disaster.
“I did drink an excessive amount of alcohol throughout that extraordinarily anxious and traumatic interval, I recognise this,” she added.
The Opposition Whip, who represents the seat of Shellharbour, mentioned she had been “abstaining from alcohol”.
Mr Hazzard mentioned Mr Latham’s feedback about Ms Watson had been “totally irrelevant” within the context of price range estimates hearings, when ministers and public servants take questions from committees about using taxpayer funds.
He additionally instructed the committee Mr Latham was a “born grub” and accused him of being paranoid.
“Sadly, you search for the worst in everyone, as you probably did yesterday,” Mr Hazzard mentioned.