Labor puts heat on Abbott over Heffernan

20 May 2012, 5:11 pm   -   Source: AAP

Government ministers say it would be hypocritical for Tony Abbott not to sack Senator Bill Heffernan over allegations he hit a senior party staffer.

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Senior government ministers say it would be hypocritical for Opposition Leader Tony Abbott not to sack Liberal senator Bill Heffernan over allegations he hit a senior party staffer and called him a "poofter".

Senator Heffernan was at a branch meeting on the NSW Central Coast earlier this month when he allegedly struck staffer Ray Carter, 67, so hard he was knocked off balance.

Mr Carter, a suspended electoral officer for NSW Energy Minister Chris Hartcher, claims Senator Heffernan later approached him and said, "I didn't know you were a poofter."

The matter is now being investigated by NSW Police.

Workplace Relations Minister Bill Shorten says the alleged incident will be a test for Mr Abbott, given his harsh criticism of suspended Labor MP Craig Thomson and Speaker Peter Slipper.

"Mr Abbott has certainly rushed to judgment when it comes to other people but not (those) from his own party," Mr Shorten told ABC TV on Sunday.

"I think the challenge here is, will he rush to judgement again when it's his own party or will he take the more measured Labor approach of saying that you have to go through a process."

Fellow cabinet minister Craig Emerson also challenged Mr Abbott - who has repeatedly criticised Prime Minister Julia Gillard for relying on Mr Thomson's "tainted" vote - to show consistency.

"If Mr Abbott applied his own principles he'd refuse to accept Senator Heffernan's tainted vote, he will stand him down from chairing the relevant Senate committee and he will move to dismiss Senator Heffernan from the Liberal Party," he told reporters in Canberra.

Dr Emerson argued that, alternatively, Mr Abbott could "change his principles" and allow everyone due process and the presumption of innocence.

"Mr Abbott needs to take stock of his behaviour where he has appointed himself as judge in the case of Mr Thomson and indeed in the case of Mr Slipper."

The workplace watchdog says Mr Thomson misused $500,000 in members' funds when he was in charge of the Health Services Union prior to entering parliament in 2007.

Mr Slipper faces allegations he sexually harassed a staffer and misused taxi vouchers.

Mr Abbott wasn't talking to the media on Sunday, instead referring to a statement from the Liberal Party's NSW president Arthur Sinodinos, who was at the May 3 meeting.

Senator Sinodinos said neither he nor state director Mark Needham witnessed "any incident, assault or even minor disturbance".

"None of the attendees raised any complaints or reported any incidents to either the president or director at the conclusion of the meeting," he said.

Senator Sinodinos said the party had reviewed statements from Mr Carter and two other witnesses and "does not believe there is any substance to the allegations".

The assault was reported to Gosford police on May 15.

Senator Heffernan did not return AAP's calls on Sunday.

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