Appeal relief for Liberal staffer

A HIGH-PROFILE Tasmanian political staffer has had his conviction for harassing his inlaws with abusive messages set aside as a result of an appeal to the District Court in New South Wales.

Brendan Blomeley, 42, of Lindisfarne, the chief of staff to Tasmanian Liberal Senator and Chief Government Whip in the Senate David Bushby, was convicted last year on two counts of using a carriage service to harass his then parentsin-law Julia and Ted Edwards.

Mr Blomeley lodged an appeal that was heard over three days and finalised this week.

Justice Christopher Robison set aside Magistrate Megan Greenwood’s convictions.

“In each matter the appeal is allowed, I set aside the conviction and all orders of the lea rned magistrate. In lieu of each matter I am satisfied that the charge has been proved,” he said.

Justice Robison did not proceed to conviction but required Mr Blomeley to enter into an 18-month good behaviour bond on each count.

Magistrate Greenwood had fined Mr Blomeley $2000 in the NSW local court in July 2017.

Mr Blomeley said in reaction: “This has been an extremely distressing experience and I am pleased now to be in a position to put this whole unpleasant episode behind me and I remain 100 per cent committed to the health and wellbeing of my children.”

During the local court hearing in July 2017, defence counsel Neal Funnell said a criminal conviction could have cost Mr Blomeley his job.

“Bearing in mind the political nature of the job, it is incredibly unlikely for his position to remain tenable if a conviction is recorded against him,” he said.

Brendan Blomeley