EXCLUSIVE: Environment Minister Penny Sharpe, the government’s leader in the Upper House, was snapped having drinks last Thursday night at a local bar, on a night when a Parliamentary Sitting was on.

The image of Sharpe, which was sent exclusively to Ray, comes as the Minister was granted a pair for “Ministerial reasons” while Parliament sat until the early hours of Friday morning.

Ray spoke with Nationals MLC Wes Fang, who revealed just how a pair works and the reasons for one being granted, as questions were raised about what exactly Sharpe was doing. She appeared to be having drinks with Daily Telegraph reporter James O’Doherty at a nearby bar.

The office of Minister Penny Sharpe released the following statement in response: “Pairs are granted for a range of reasons, including meetings, illness and caring responsibilities.

“Minister Sharpe had a pair approved from 630pm to rise on Thursday 20 June, agreed to by the Coalition. The pair was granted to allow the Minister to host the official Environment Ministers’ Meeting dinner with state and federal counterparts, on the eve of the Environment Ministers’ Meeting here in Sydney.

“The Victorian Minister was late arriving in Sydney and missed the dinner. So, after the dinner, Minister Sharpe and two staff members met with the Victorian Environment Minister at a restaurant opposite Parliament House. They discussed taking strong action to prevent lithium battery fires – which they put to their federal and interstate colleagues at the Environment Ministers’ Meeting the following day.”

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