Not content with drunken bigotry, sexually harassing his staff and threatening people submitting to select committees, ACT MP David Garrett is now trying to intimidate other MPs, challenging a Labour MP to "take this outside" during select committee hearings.
This sort of thuggery is not acceptable in the modern world. It is particularly not acceptable in Parliament. Threatening or intimidating an MP in the course of their duties - effectively trying to bully them into not performing those duties - is a very serious breach of Privilege, regardless of whether it is done by a member of the public or another MP. Parliament can not function when MPs are physically threatened for their political views and for representing their constituents.
A complaint has been lodged, and hopefully the Speaker will pass it on to the Privileges Committee. In the meantime, one thing has become abundantly clear: David Garrett is a bullying thug who has no place in our Parliament.
