I Won't Be Intimidated
Western Victoria MP Bev McArthur used a Members Statement to divulge that a threat was received by her office following her contribution to the debate on wage theft legislation on Tuesday night.
Mrs McArthur has notified the President of the Legislative Council and Parliamentary Security.
Hansard Draft:
Mrs McARTHUR (Western Victoria): Mr President I entered this place 18 months ago to prosecute ideas and call out bad policy in the interests of my constituents and better governance for the entire state.
No amount of threats and intimidation from any individual or group, to my person, my office and particularly my staff, will stop me from pursuing these objectives.
On Tuesday night, I questioned the conflict in the wage theft bill between privacy and unions.
No surprise that a threat was received by my office yesterday.
Mr President, today in this place I will raise more serious questions about the close links between law firms and the contentious Justice Legislation.
Can I look forward to more threats tonight, Mr President, or am I entitled to raise issues without fear or favour in this forum of free speech and democracy?
I will not tolerate any vested interests threating my office in their endeavours to silence me.
Let me say this Mr President – it only strengthens my resolve to stand up as is my right in this place and call out injustice to individuals and dangerous legislation.
18 June 2020