LAUNCESTON'S male aldermen risk being "tarred with the same brush" because one of them will not own up to swearing at Monday's council meeting, according to the council's longest-serving alderman Robin McKendrick.
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At Monday's meeting during fiery debate, a male voice called out "You're a d...head" in response to an interjection from Alderman Dean.
The insult was heard around the council chamber, but it was unclear who was responsible.
Mayor Albert van Zetten, who was chairing the meeting, did not hear the insult and opted to take no further action during the meeting.
When asked on Tuesday, all the council's male aldermen denied firing off the insult.
However, several said they knew who was to blame for the comment - all nominating the same alderman - and urged the offender to apologise.
One alderman has labelled the scandal "d...head-gate".
Another said the situation had become "Tiger Woods-ian", because the offender had obviously lied when denying he was responsible for the incident.
One said the political fallout from the incident would "only get worse the longer he holds out".
Alderman McKendrick, who has served on the council since 1983, yesterday urged the offender to own up so that the matter could be put to rest.
"It was said publicly and the person responsible should admit to it," Alderman McKendrick said.
"It was only about a minute of a five-hour meeting, but the person who said it should own up so we can all move on."
Alderman Dean said it was disappointing the perpetrator had not offered an apology or retracted the statement, and that he intended to pursue the matter.
"The perpetrator is allowing every other male alderman to appear suspect and there is a tarnishing that goes with that," Alderman Dean said.
"To me, that is the really disappointing aspect - it is just extremely disappointing that the person will not own up, because it makes everyone else look bad.
"I feel for the members around the table who did nothing wrong, because they are good members of council, and I know who was responsible."
Alderman Dean said he would not be letting the matter drop.
"I will be asking for an inquiry to occur," he said.
"I will be putting it in writing to the Mayor because I believe it needs to be fixed up.
"This can't just be swept under the carpet."
Alderman van Zetten has previously indicated he would be willing to pursue the matter further if asked to do so.
