Aussie official denies 'stripper' behavior

BRISBANE, Australia, Sept. 19 (UPI) -- An official in the Australian state of Queensland has denied drunkenly removing his shirt in "stripper fashion" at a 2007 Christmas party.

Queensland Climate Change Minister Andrew McNamara admitted to removing his shirt at the party, but he said he only took the garment off because he had spilled wine on it and he immediately put on a fresh top, the Brisbane Courier-Mail reported Friday.

McNamara denied allegations from witnesses that he twirled the shirt around his head in "classic stripper fashion" while watching a movie during the party at the Environmental Protection Agency's office in Brisbane.

"There was absolutely no singing, no dancing and no nuding it up at all," McNamara said.

"There was a brief moment of levity at the minister spilling wine down his shirt and then peeling it off," he said. "I went and rinsed the shirt off, put another one on and then went back to watch the movie, it was no big deal."

"I have spilt wine down my shirt before and I will do it again," he said.

"While I don't think it was my finest moment, I don't think it was inappropriate either," McNamara said.

An anonymous source told the Courier-Mail that McNamara had been "heavily intoxicated" during the incident.