NSW Premier Nathan Rees has lashed out at federal Liberal Senator Bill Heffernan for allegedly trying to smuggle a knife into State Parliament and threatening to hit a police special constable. A security report into the incident says a constable confiscated a knife from the longtime Senator for NSW after the senator passed through a metal detector.
The report says Senator Heffernan was told he would get the knife back when he decided to leave Parliament and allegedly responded, "That's OK. If I don't get it back, I'll job you one."
Senator Heffernan allegedly claimed he was testing security during a visit to NSW Liberal MPs.
Mr Rees says the allegations are "extraordinary". He says Senator Heffernan needs to realise that no-one is above the law.
"If Mr Heffernan has comments to make about the improvement of security of Parliament House or anywhere else, he should make those concerns known to the appropriate people, ie the Speaker," he said.
"I'll be restrained in my language. There is a right way and a wrong way to raise these and the way he has done it, I think, is the wrong way."
The Speaker of the Lower House, Richard Torbay, says he has referred the matter to federal authorities.
"If you start doing this sort of activity at an airport or other high-profile buildings like a Parliament, you do face charges," he said.
"It is obviously a very poor example, particularly for someone in public life, to be undertaking these sorts of atrocious [actions]. Quite frankly, it is foolish and disgraceful behaviour."
Senator Heffernan has refused to comment on the matter.
He has represented NSW in the Senate since the 1996 election.
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