09.13 pm, Wednesday February 10 2010

Neal clashes with TV crew, police called

13:15 AEST Wed Jul 2 2008
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Police have been called to an "angry confrontation" between beleaguered federal MP Belinda Neal and a current affairs television crew.

A reporter from the Nine Network's A Current Affair program, Ben Fordham, said he confronted the MP on Wednesday morning in the car park outside her Gosford electoral office on the NSW Central Coast.

Ms Neal and her husband, suspended NSW education minister John Della Bosca, have been resisting attempts by police to interview them over their clash with staff at the Iguanas Waterfront bar in Gosford on June 6.

"I threw some questions at her when she got out of the car," Mr Fordham told Fairfax Radio.

"The same sort of questions I suppose that the police want answered at the moment, and it developed into quite an angry confrontation."

The reporter said he followed Ms Neal into a dark stairwell before she fled into her office.

Ms Neal then called police, he said.

"So the police have turned up," Mr Fordham said.

"It's quite ironic - these are the police who would really like to be sitting down and quizzing her."

The MP for the federal seat of Robertson had lodged a formal complaint, Mr Fordham said.

But he denied his crew had harassed the MP.

"I was simply doing my job," he said, adding he never entered her office.

"When people talk about Belinda Neal's temper I now know it because I've seen it for myself up close and personal."

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has again refused to compel Ms Neal to submit to a police interview over the Iguanas nightclub controversy, but repeated that no one is guaranteed a place in politics.

"I've said already that these are serious consequences which flow from anyone who has broken the law," Mr Rudd told reporters in Sydney.

"And furthermore, I've said already that no one is guaranteed a future in politics."

On Tuesday night, Mr Della Bosca agreed, under pressure from NSW Premier Morris Iemma, to be interviewed by police, but Ms Neal has not yet done so.

Bar staff say Ms Neal was abusive and threatening, and told them she would have the club's "f***ing licence" - claims denied in statutory declarations filed by Ms Neal's companions.

Mr Rudd expects Ms Neal to front police but won't order her to do so.

"My expectation is that the member for Robertson would honour her commitment to the Australian parliament to cooperate fully with this investigation," Mr Rudd said.

"At the conclusion of these legal processes I'll be making a determination as to what course of action is warranted."

Watch ACA tonight for the full story.

 
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