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MP in war of the words
Tuesday 8 April, 2008 12:01am
HAWKESBURY State Liberal MP Ray Williams is accused of challenging a branch president in his 60s to a fight during an angry outburst at a local meeting.
The meeting took place on March 7 where Mr Williams (pictured) allegedly"invited" long-time party member Bernie Moriatry to fight him in a pouring of outrage that involved a string of expletives.
Mr Williams denied he challenged Mr Moriatry to a fight, but admitted that he "used a few choice words".
"I have never had a fight and I have never wanted to," he said.
The claims against the MP were made in a letter from the treasurer of the Rouse Hill branch, John Higman, to the Liberal Leader Barry O'Farrell.
Mr Williams described it as a "verbal altercation" over branch issues that was blown out of proportion.
"Mr Higman is a very principled guy and unfortunately he caught the tail end of what happened," Mr Williams said.
"He accepts my version of what happened now and I just wish that he'd come to me before writing that letter.
"What happened is damaging to the party and I wish I hadn't done it now."
Mr Williams said he didn't believe the Liberal Party was facing increased pressures in the run up to the September Local Government elections.
"I don't think there is any real pressure there," he said. "The ALP realise that we are there as an alternative government."
The election of former One Nation member Gordon Reynolds as a local government conference president for the Liberal Party has also raised a few eyebrows.
"The Liberal Party are attracting some strange bedfellows into their organisation," one local resident said.
