A Federal Liberal staffer has resigned after he was accused of calling Tasmanian Greens leader Cassy O'Connor a "meth-head c---" in 2019.
The allegation against Andrew Hudgson surfaced in Tasmanian Parliament on Wednesday evening, leading him to resign from his current role as advisor to assistant treasurer Michael Sukkar.
Ms O'Connor accused Mr Hudgson, who she called a "sexist pig", of hurling the "vile insult" while he and his colleagues walked past a Greens press conference.
She told Parliament she did not hear the comment as she was doing an interview but her media advisor, Alice Giblin, heard it and made detailed notes of the incident.
"I believed her without question because in the decade I’ve worked with Alice she has never lied to me,” she told the House of Assembly under parliamentary privilege.
"Others who were with Mr Hudgson at the time heard it too. We know this. We've had it confirmed.
"Imagine hating women so much you'd say that audibly about a woman you don't know, who also happens to be an elected representative?"
The alleged incident took place while Mr Hudgson was working for the former Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman.
Ms O'Connor said they reported the incident to the then-premier's office in 2019, who said Mr Hudgson had denied the claims.
The Department of Premier and Cabinet then instituted a formal investigation, which found all witnesses who were walking with Mr Hudgson at the time of the alleged incident said he did not direct profanities to Ms O'Connor and the claims were not substantiated.
"A male Liberal staffer was believed over a female Greens’ staffer," Ms O'Connor said.
"And so, here we are. Andrew Hudgson’s story was believed. He went on to work for the Morrison Government.
"It reminds me a bit of the Catholic Church of old, shuffle people around, but keep them on the books."
A Tasmanian government spokesperson confirmed an independent investigation into the alleged comment was conducted in 2019.
"The Tasmanian Government takes very seriously the matter of culture and conduct of staff, and ensuring the right policies and procedures are in place for people to feel safe, to feel respected and to be heard," they said.
Meanwhile, a federal government spokesperson said they were previously "unaware of any allegations raised about the alleged behaviour of the staff member during their previous employment".
After the "allegations surfaced, the staff member was asked to resign. Which they have done," they said.
The fresh allegations come days after thousands of women marched around the country calling for a cultural change to the treatment of women in politics.
Former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins, who was allegedly raped by a colleague in Parliament House, addressed the Canberra rally, telling the crowd she felt like a "political problem" when she reported the alleged incident.
The Tasmanian Department of Premier and Cabinet have been contacted for comment.
