Liberal senator David Van has apologised to Jacqui Lambie for interrupting her in Parliament, but denied claims that someone growled or made “dog noises” at her during debate.

Senator Van apologised for making “disorderly” interjections while she asked the government a question about social housing in her home state of Tasmania on Tuesday.

He said he regretted making the interjections, but denied the “characterisation” of his actions alleged by other senators.

“I’ve reflected on my behaviour during question time and I acknowledge that interjections are always disorderly,” he said.

“While I do not accept the characterisation of my interjections in a manner that was raised in points of order at that time by other senators, I do regret the interjections and I apologise to Senator Lambie and to the Senate unreservedly.”

It came after Labor and Greens senators claimed growling and “dog noises”, directed at Senator Lambie, had come from a section of Coalition politicians in the chamber.

The alleged incident, on Tuesday afternoon, came just hours after a landmark report on sexual harassment and sexism in Parliament was released.

Senate President Slade Brockman said he did not hear the alleged noises, despite several senators claiming they came from a back corner of the chamber, where several Coalition members were seated.

Coalition senator Hollie Hughes also denied the alleged incident on social media.

But Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young, the first to claim the noises had been made, said it was inappropriate for politicians to make “growling and dog noises” while a woman spoke.

“It happened. I don’t know who is responsible for it, but it is inappropriate,” she said.

Labor’s Senate leader Senator Wong also stood to claim she heard the noise being made.

“I said ‘Who’s growling?’ I’d ask one of the senators at that end to do the right thing and withdraw,” she said, also pointing toward a corner of the chamber where Coalition senators were sitting.

“At least ‘fess up.”

Senator Lambie’s office declined to comment.

Read more:

https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2021/11/30/dog-noise-claims-denied-lambie/

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It’s rare to see an issue unite the federal Labor leader, Anthony Albanese, independent senator Rex Patrick and One Nation’s Malcolm Roberts with such passion.

But all three in the past week have launched extraordinary attacks on the prime minister’s department for insisting that national cabinet documents remain secret under FOI laws, despite the government losing a case brought by Patrick in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal on that very point in relation to a previous FOI application.

On Tuesday, Patrick escalated the dispute in the Senate, labelling the department’s secretary, Phil Gaetjens, a “disgrace”, a “henchman” for Morrison, and a “cover-up expert” over what he alleges is the department’s improper use of the cabinet documents exemption.

Read more:

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/dec/01/labor-one-nation-and-rex-patrick-unite-to-decry-coalitions-refusal-to-release-national-cabinet-documents

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This National "Cabinet" is nothing more than the old COAG, but because ScoMo-the-liar has added the word "Cabinet", he thinks he can hide the truth... ScoMo is a liar and a bully...

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There are statistics, and there are vignettes in Kate Jenkins’ review that trigger deep revulsion.

“The MP sitting beside me leaned over. Also thinking he wanted to tell me something, I leaned in. He grabbed me and stuck his tongue down my throat. The others all laughed. It was revolting and humiliating.”

Another person said there were aspiring male politicians “who thought nothing of, in one case, picking you up, kissing you on the lips, lifting you up, touching you, pats on the bottom, comments about appearance, you know, the usual. The point I make with that … was the culture allowed it, encouraged it.”

Another: “Frequently, like at least every week, the advice was go and cry in the toilet so that nobody can see you, because that’s what it’s like up here.”

Parliament is not the only Australian workplace where women, and some men, feel unsafe. There are plenty of toxic places, plenty of terrible stories.

But there are distinctive characteristics of political life that supercharge some of the risks. The Jenkins review lists them. The role of power, gender inequality, a lack of accountability, a culture of entitlement and exclusion.

I sit on the edge of this world. I have for more than two decades. Political reporters are in it, and out of it. The hours are long. We all work under high pressure. The occupational requirements are unforgiving. Perfection is a high bar, and I certainly don’t claim to clear it.

But if any external agency assessed my own news bureau in the terms in which the sex discrimination commission has just reviewed the parliament, I would dig a large hole, clamber inside, and never get out again.

I would be paralysed by shame and remorse. I would feel the clinical rebuke in my marrow. There would not be enough ways of saying sorry.

A review like the one tabled on Tuesday should trigger deep institutional atonement (which was actually recommendation one of the Jenkins report: stop, take a beat, acknowledge the wrong).

Read more:

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/nov/30/the-australian-parliament-the-whole-arse-covering-and-ego-driven-apparatus-should-be-paralysed-by-shame-and-remorse

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