Liberal councillor Carol Provan claims colleague Kent Johns called her 'a “f-----g pompous bitch'

Cr Johns is the president of the Liberal Party’s NSW division and the allegation comes amid claims the party has “a woman problem” after a number of incidents, including accusations of sexist bullying.

Cr Johns is also locked in a bitter preselection battle with sitting member Craig Kelly in the seat of Hughes.

Cr Provan claims the verbal abuse occurred during a meeting of Liberal councillors in the mayoral suite and was delivered “with venom” before Cr Johns stormed from the room.

She said the party’s state director Chris Stone failed to respond to her written complaint, which she made on September 23, despite several follow-up calls and emails in following weeks.

A Liberal Party spokesman confirmed “a complaint has been received and will be investigated in due course”.

Cr Johns, who is in China on business, said: “I do not discuss what occurs inside party room meetings”.

Two councillors who attended the meeting denied Cr Johns used the words claimed by Cr Provan.

Another councillor at the meeting said he could not discuss internal party matters.

Cr Provan declined to comment when contacted by the Leader on Thursday but emailed a statement on Friday, which said:

“There appears to have been a leak on an incident in which I was involved in with Kent Johns. 

“After receiving a number of phone calls from colleagues yesterday I thought it appropriate for me to make a statement. 

“My statement on the incident is as follows.

“On 23/9/18 at a Liberal Party meeting at the council, Cr Kent Johns abused me in front of six other Liberal Party members where he called me a “fxxxxxx pompous bitch”. 

“This was done with venom and he stormed out of the room. 

“I am used to the rough and tough of politics but as this was done with such venom in front of colleagues I found this unacceptable. 

“I put in a formal complaint to the Liberal Party (Chris Stone) on 24/9/18 and had no response. 

“I then rang his office and resent the complaint on 3/10/18 and 5/10/18. 

“I spoke with his secretary who said in writing that she would flag it with him. Still no response. 

“I emailed the complaint again on 23/10/18 and 16/11/18 and still have had no response.

“There appears to have been leaks on what happened with apparently many people knowing of the incident.

“I am concerned that this type of behaviour appears to be acceptable in the Liberal party and is not being addressed. 

“The apparent all out war between factions is causing tempers to be at stretching point and until all views from both sides are acknowledged and the ‘broad church’ concept espoused by John Howard is accepted, the Liberal Party will continue to have problems. 

“There is no wonder that women are being offended by the bullying tactics of some individuals trying to takeover and wreck the Liberal Party.”

The alleged incident occurred during a meeting of Liberal councillors to discuss whom should be nominated for the deputy mayor’s position if an agreement was not reached with independent Steve Simpson.

Mayor Cr Pesce and all other Liberal councillors, with the exception of Marie Simone, were present.

it is understood Cr Johns pushed for Cr Simone to be nominated for deputy mayor, saying she was responsible for big donations to the Liberal Party and controlled the numbers in key branches.

Cr Provan put forward her own name and outlined her credentials from 18 years as a councillor, including two stints as mayor.

She also criticised Cr Simone’s performance on council, leading to the alleged verbal abuse by Cr Johns.

Cr Provan, who had previously been an independent, joined the Liberal Party in 2014, with the encouragement of senior party members, in a bid to win preselection for the state seat of Miranda.

However, Eleni Petinos was preselected and went on to win the seat in 2015.

Cr Provan was elected to council in September, 2008, having previously served two elected terms as a councillor (1983-1991) and as mayor (1987-1988 and 2011-12).