A government minister has told parliament he was removing a Listerine strip from the roof of his mouth when he made what appeared to be vomiting gestures behind a female MP as she was talking about integrity.
But an hour earlier Minister Gavin Pearce told Independent MP Kristie Johnston the gesture was due to him “swallowing a lozenge”.
The Tasmanian parliament is currently debating a censure motion on Premier Jeremy Rockliff following mounting concerns about how the government has handled issues of accountability, transparency and integrity.
Ms Johnston was in the middle of speaking about the need for all politicians to uphold high standards of integrity, when Mr Pearce, who was sitting behind her, appeared to make a hand gesture to induce vomiting.
Kristie Johnston was speaking about integrity. (Parliament of Tasmania)
Gavin Pearce says he was moving a breath-freshening strip from the roof of his mouth. (Parliament of Tasmania)
The sequence was captured on the parliament’s live stream. (Parliament of Tasmania)
The moment was caught on the parliament’s live video stream and Ms Johnston soon demanded an apology.
“This disrespectful and unparliamentary conduct calls into question his commitment to integrity and the standards his premier had just espoused in the house,”
Ms Johnston said.
“Minister Pearce must apologise to me, to the house and most importantly to the Tasmanian people for his offensive and inappropriate behaviour.
“I call on Minister Pearce and the premier to demonstrate how they intend to make amends”
Ms Johnston said Mr Pearce contacted her, claiming he had in fact been “swallowing a lozenge”.
Labor MP Ella Haddad then went on to bring up the issue in the debate, saying it was “questionable” and called for him to apologise.
“It looked very much from the footage on the parliamentary broadcast like Minister Pearce was making a hand gesture while Ms Johnston was [talking about integrity] that simulated vomiting,” she said.
“A prospect that maybe integrity or the concept of integrity and ministerial accountability literally makes him sick.
“It’s just yet another example of ministerial conduct not really living up to public expectations.“
Kristie Johnston says Mr Pearce’s conduct was “unparliamentary”. (ABC News: Ebony ten Broeke)
Mr Pearce responded immediately and said “it was not the case”, before pulling out a packet of Listerine tabs.
“I have a throat infection at the moment and I have been using Listerine tabs,” he said.
“Whether they work or not, I don’t know.
“I put a couple on my tongue and moved them because they stuck to the roof of my mouth.
“There was no pre-emptive gesture, I wasn’t looking any anybody, I simply moved it.“
Listerine strips claim to dissolve immediately and their primary purpose is to freshen breath.
Mr Pearce went on to apologise to Ms Johnston and the parliament.
“If that has caused offence or been misconstrued in any way, then I apologise not only to the house, but to Ms Johnston.
“Sincerely, that was not the case. It was a reflex; I moved this Listerine thing away from my mouth, I’m sorry.
“If I’ve sinned, then stone me.“
Mr Pearce said he apologised for the misunderstanding.
“More than that, I wouldn’t want to think you would assume that I would do such a thing as what was alleged.”
