Vic premier says sorry for MP fat joke

Victoria's premier Daniel Andrews has apologised to an opposition MP for making a joke about his weight in parliament.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews arrives at Victorian Parliment in Melbourne, Thursday, April 14, 2016. Source: AAP

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has personally apologised to a Liberal MP after making a fat joke about him.

When Liberal MP Andrew Katos got up to speak in parliament on Tuesday, Mr Andrews said it was the first time no one had seen him coming - a reference to Mr Katos' weight.

"Fair cop, I shouldn't have said it, and I apologise," Mr Andrews told reporters on Wednesday.

After Mr Katos said he wanted a personal apology, not an apology through the media, Mr Andrews found him in parliament to say sorry.

"I thank the premier for his apology and hope he understands that preaching about respect and anti-bullying means little if he fails to lead by example," Mr Katos said.

"We should be debating the serious issues of Victoria, not jibing each other about one's appearance or height or hair colour or ethnicity or race or whatever it might be."

Mr Andrews has also regularly called Opposition Leader Matthew Guy - who is about 173cm tall - "my little friend" or "that little man".

In turn, Mr Guy has sometimes referred to the height of Deputy Premier James Merlino, who is shorter than he is.

"There's many things that are said in parliament, and sometimes it can be a bit of a bear pit, in relation to what was said yesterday, it's a fair cop. I shouldn't have said it," Mr Andrews said.


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Source: AAP



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