Jacqui Lambie furious over Morrison government staffer’s ’vile insult’

Outspoken Senator Jacqui Lambie has blasted the Liberal Party for promoting a staffer who made a vile comment about a Tasmanian female politician.

Federal media adviser Andrew Hudgson allegedly called Tasmanian Greens leader Cassy O’Connor a “meth-head c***” while working for then-premier Will Hodgman in 2019.

Mr Hudgson had been working for Housing Minister Michael Sukkar but was asked to resign on Wednesday after Ms O’Connor aired the claims under parliamentary privilege.

But Senator Lambie told Sky News he should have been sacked a “long time ago”, when the allegations were first reported to the premier’s office.

“Action should have been taken early on, not him moved on and moved up through the federal Liberal Party,” she said.

“This is what happens when you leave investigations in-house. It is shocking.

“Abusers get reposted and half the time, then they get promoted as well. It is absolutely disgusting, this behaviour needs to stop so it’s not just happening in politics.

“It happens in the military and I’m sure (in) plenty other institutions out there.”

Meanwhile, Superannuation Minister Jane Hume said it had been a really powerful week in the parliament.

“So many women have found their voices and had the courage to stand up and say, this behaviour is not okay – and that is a good thing,” Senator Hume told ABC RN.

“There will be a cultural change in this building, undoubtedly.”

Senator Hume said she supported the need for stories given to the independent inquiry into the culture the of Parliament House – led by sex discrimination commissioner Kate Jenkins – to be anonymised.

This follows a bipartisan group of political staffers sending a letter to Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Labor leader Anthony Albanese asking that submissions made to the inquiry be confidential and unable to be obtained under freedom of information.

A government spokesman said it was unaware of any allegations raised about the alleged behaviour of the staff member during their previous employment.

“After several historical allegations surfaced, the staff member was asked to resign, which they have done.”