Nationals Deputy Senator Stumbles at Committee Hearing After Drinks Function Controversy

The Nationals, a prominent political party in Australia, faced another episode of embarrassment when their deputy leader, NSW senator Perin Davey, experienced difficulty pronouncing words during a Senate committee hearing after attending a staff drinks event.

Senator Davey admitted to consuming two glasses of red wine but denied being inebriated, stating, ‘I stumbled over my words. If you want to pick on people who stumble over their words, there are plenty of Labor MPs [who do so].’

During the incident, Davey was rigorously questioning the agency Create Australia about arts in regional areas, emphasizing her strong interest in the subject.

Not long before this, former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce attracted attention when a video circulated showing him lying on a Canberra street after falling off a planter box, explaining that he had been drinking while on medication.

Independent MP Zali Steggall recently raised the idea of legislating random drug and alcohol testing for parliamentarians and staff, a proposition that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appeared hesitant to endorse, underlining that members of Parliament should be accountable and act responsibly.

Perin Davey’s loyalty to Nationals leader David Littleproud was highlighted amid the incident, with Littleproud refraining from commenting on the issue publicly.

Amid speculation that the incident might be weaponized in her preselection battle, Senator Davey expressed hopes that it would not be exploited in such a manner.