PREMIER Lara Giddings says she can’t speak out about the furore surrounding Labor MP Brenton Best for fear of legal action.
Mr Best is under fire for using the cover of parliamentary privilege last Thursday to accuse Liberal member Michael Ferguson of being involved in gay hate rallies.
The Premier today said she had been advised by Solicitor General Leigh Sealy SC not to talk about the matter while Mr Ferguson considers suing her over comments she made in support of Mr Best on Friday.
“I can’t actually comment because of defamation laws and the threat of potential legal action. I’m sorry, I’d like to be able to but I can’t,” she said.
“I can’t comment because of the fact that Michael Ferguson may well pursue legal action.
“The advice that I’ve had is that I can’t discuss this publically, but be assured I will continue doing what I’ve said I would do throughout this whole process and if there are announcements to be made they will be done so through appropriate ways.
“I know people in this world of Twitter and Facebook like instant answers, but in fact you do need to take these issues very seriously and that’s exactly what I am doing.”
Will Hodgman today continued his attack on what he has described as a case of gutter politics.
“I think this sort of thing is a despicable abuse of our parliamentary process and I would think as any Tasmanian would that Brenton Best should resign if he’s not able to substantiate the claims he has made,” he said.
