- Trio heard joking about the desirability of political rivals
- Apologised on the day the complaint was made
Three Labor MPs have issued written apologies after their lewd game was overheard by a political rival at a popular food festival.
Federal Assistant Health Minister Rebecca White was attending Taste of Summer in Hobart on December 30 when she was overheard playing ‘shoot, shag, marry’ with state Labor MPs Ella Haddad and Sarah Lovell.
A Liberal Party member within earshot lodged a complaint after hearing the Labor trio joke about the desirability of male colleagues.
‘I and others sitting next to me and next to you were absolutely shocked at the language and dialogue of what was being discussed very loudly so everyone in the vicinity could hear,’ the complaint stated.
All three women issued written apologies on January 5 – the day the complaint was made, The Australian reported.
‘I unreservedly apologise for offending you and appreciate you making direct contact to share your feedback,’ White wrote.
Haddad, Tasmania’s shadow Attorney-General, wrote: ‘I hope you were able to nevertheless enjoy your day at the Taste and I’m sorry for my part in disturbing it.’
Labor’s shadow Health Minister Lovell added: ‘I take your comments on board and apologise for offending you and your friends.
Federal assistant health minister Rebecca White was overheard playing ‘shoot, shag, marry’ with fellow MPs at the Taste of Summer festival. All three have since apologised
Tasmanian state MP Sarah Lovell was also involved
‘I hope I didn’t ruin your afternoon entirely and you were able to otherwise enjoy the afternoon.’
It’s understood that the complainant accepted the apologies.
The party game of ‘shoot, shag, marry’ involves participants ranking a group of people, usually of the opposite gender, and putting them into one of those three categories.
White was first elected to the Tasmanian Parliament in 2010 and served as Labor state leader from 2017 to 2024.
She was elected to the federal seat of Lyons in the 2025 election and immediately took the assistant ministerial role.
State Opposition Leader Josh Willie was questioned about the inappropriate game while introducing Labor’s new candidate for Huon, Abby McKibben, on Monday.
He was also at the festival on the day in question.
‘It was a private conversation that was overheard,’ Willie told reporters.
Tasmania’s Opposition attorney-general Ella Haddad also apologised for her involvement
The incident took place at the popular Taste of Summer festival in Hobart
‘I’m not going to be providing running commentary.
‘Apologies have been made and they were accepted.’
A Labor spokesman denied the ‘premise of the accusations’ and specific language used in the game.
‘This matter relates to a private conversation that was overheard by a member of the public at a crowded event,’ the statement read.
‘We do not accept the premise of the accusations as they have been characterised and reject the specific language that has been attributed.
‘We will not be commenting further as legal options in relation to defamation are being considered.’
Taste of Summer is a week-long celebration held in Hobart in late December each year.
