Tasmanian government Minister Jane Howlett has labelled the behaviour of three Labor MPs as “absolutely disgusting” after they were overheard playing a vulgar game at Hobart’s Taste of Summer festival.
State MPs Ella Haddad and Sarah Lovell, along with federal member for Lyons Rebecca White, were among a group of Labor politicians at the popular waterfront event on December 30.
Festival-goers reportedly overheard the three politicians playing a version of “Shag, Marry, Kill” – rating the desirability of various Liberal Party politicians.
The exchange drew a written complaint from a Liberal Party member who was sitting in close proximity to the group and overheard the exchange.
Howlett said the behaviour was “atrocious” and called on Opposition Leader Josh Willie to launch an independent investigation.
“It is absolutely appalling and some of the comments that I’ve heard are just absolutely outright disgusting,” she said.
When asked if the incident might simply be politicians letting loose after a few drinks, Howlett disagreed.
“Obviously there’s a scandal and there’s more to it,” she said.
At a press conference on Sunday, Willie declined to go into details on the matter.
“It was an overheard private conversation and apologies have been made and have been accepted and I’m not going to make further statements,” he said.
“I’m not going to provide further commentary.”
The three Labor MPs involved each immediately wrote a letter of apology to the complainant earlier this month.
