BLAIR RICHARDS, State Political Reporter, Mercury
September 23, 2016
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.
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