Not condoning Mr Martin’s un-tasteful rhetoric, Mrs Fardell conceded it was election time and that sparks usually fly during this period.

“It’s not appropriate in the House, especially not the bear pit,” Mrs Fardell said.

“It’s election mode and there’s tension from members trying to stay in Government or wanting to get in, it’s amazing.”

Opposition frontbencher Adrian Piccoli told Parliament the Bathurst MP walked over to where the Opposition staff were sitting, one of whom was a female, and threatened, intimidated and bullied them.

Mr Piccoli said Mr Martin told them, “you f..ing grubs better learn to shut up”.

Mr Piccoli asked speaker Richard Torbay to take some action against the offensive behaviour.

Mr Martin said he did walk over and “remonstrate” with Opposition staff, but did not swear at them.

“I’ve done it before,” he told Parliament.

“I did not use the language, but these people have been serial offenders in this house.”

Speaker Richard Torbay investigated the matter and told Parliament that Mr Martin had apologised to the Parliament via him.

“The member for Bathurst has offered an apology to me, which I convey to the house,’’ Mr Torbay told Parliament.

“He has also advised me that he has apologised in writing to a female member of the leader of the Opposition’s personal staff.

Mrs Fardell said she had never witnessed anyone use a word against somebody else and stressed that outside Parliament MP’s are generally friends.

“People must remember when they walk out of here they are friends, most of them work together on parliamentary inquiries and everyone gets on well ... it’s theatrics,” she said.

belinda.strahorn@ruralpre ss.com