‘No comment’ on MP suicide claims

The family of Tasmanian Cabinet Minister, Paula Wriedt, has broken its silence about her admission to hospital, but is not commenting on speculation Ms Wriedt attempted suicide yesterday, the ABC has reported.

Ms Wriedt’s sister, Sonia Morgan said in a statement it is not in the best interests of Ms Wriedt to go into the circumstances leading up to her emergency hospitalisation yesterday.

Ms Morgan, says Ms Wriedt has been under a great deal of personal and political pressure and the breakdown of her marriage has had a profound affect. She says her sister is not blaming anyone else and lewd comments made by television personality Sam Newman are not linked to her condition.

“Mr Newman’s comments are not in any way linked to Paula’s current health issues, rather a culmination of personal and political pressure.

“It is important that the community understands she is not blaming anyone else,” Ms Morgan said.

Meanwhile calls for Newman to be sacked continue to emerge, the latest in a Daily Telegraph editorial article by television personality Jessica Rowe, once the subject of innuendo about being “boned” by Nine.

“I am usually loathe to criticise anyone’s performance on TV, especially after being on the receiving end of some barbed comments myself, but after Sam Newman’s latest loathsome performance I am going to add my voice to the calls for him to be taken off air,” she writes.

“I agree with Bronwyn Bishop, who says the program is a “rough and tumble show”, and its humour and stunts can push the envelope and boundaries of good taste.

But enough is enough. Sam’s latest antics are beyond the pale. Come on, does anyone really buy his explanation that his comment – ‘worthy of coming on her’ – about Tasmanian MP Paula Wriedt, was not of a sexual nature.”

Source: ABC / Daily Telegraph