A fiery and emotional debate has erupted in the Western Australian Parliament about the treatment of female MPs in the wake of an incident last week when a senior minister was accused of “feigning a headbutt” towards Nationals leader Mia Davies.
Ms Davies referred the alleged behaviour of Water Minister Dave Kelly to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly last Thursday, claiming it “bordered on intimidatory”.But on Tuesday Speaker Peter Watson said he would not take the complaint any further and was satisfied Mr Kelly “did not move his head in the Member’s direction”.
Mr Kelly has repeatedly denied the allegation and has the support of the Premier Mark McGowan who said the allegations were “fabricated”. But the response sparked an emotional plea from Ms Davies, who urged her colleagues to refer the matter to a powerful committee for further investigation.”I’m happy to come to this place, I am happy to be criticised, I am happy to have members opposite pull our policy apart … we expect that,” she told the chamber.”But I expect that when one member of this place says they feel uncomfortable, that it is not mocked by those opposite.”‘Extraordinarily offensive’
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