Nationals deputy leader Perin Davey admits to drinking before Senate hearing

The deputy leader of the Nationals Party has admitted to drinking before a Senate hearing but maintains she was not drunk and only “stumbled” over her words during the controversial appearance.

Perin Davey told Sky News she “did have a drink” before speaking at a Senate environment and communications legislation committee hearing on February 13, during which she slurred her speech and spoke in a jumbled manner.

“I really thank you for your evidence tonight and I thank you because I, having sat in this place now for nearly five years, I have seen a dramatic change,” she said.

“From when once … the arts would come in and it would be a, this is what we’re saying, you come prepared you know exactly the questions I’m going to ask about the regions and the regions are now a topic of conversation.”

But the NSW senator claims she only had two glasses of red wine at a staff function beforehand and she was not drunk in parliament.

“I wouldn’t say I was under the weather,” she said.

“I stumbled over my words. If you want to pick on people who stumble over their words, there are plenty of Labor MPs (who do that).”

Senator Davey’s blurry performance at the hearing, clips of which have circulated widely on social media, came days after former Nationals boss Barnaby Joyce was filmed rolling around on a Canberra street using profane language.

Mr Joyce had since admitted he was intoxicated on a mix of alcohol and a prescription drug.

Nationals leader David Littleproud has invited Mr Joyce to take a leave of absence to deal with his personal matters.

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said she and her department had watched Ms Davey’s performance but “did not say anything about it”.

“Individuals in the parliament are all responsible for their own actions and I don’t seek to lecture anyone or add to any commentary about how people live their lives or how they behave within the law,” she said.

“People choose to live their lives as they do, we are judged by a different set of standards and I think that’s the reality.

“We are judged by the electorate. We have our jobs under the Constitution because people vote to put us there.”

The behaviour of politicians under the influence of alcohol has triggered calls for random drug and alcohol testing in Canberra.

Last Thursday, Teal MP Zali Steggall said legislation was required to address “ongoing issues with too much alcohol consumption” at Parliament House.

“Too often alcohol is laughed off as larrikin behaviour, but it’s the example it sets,” she told NCA NewsWire.

“I have certainly, walking around when we have had late votes, observed what I would assume is a level of alcohol consumption.

“I don’t think that’s appropriate.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said there had been issues “from time to time” in parliament but did not support the introduction of random alcohol and drug testing for politicians and staff.