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Senator David Leyonhjelm's Facebook account calls early-childhood workers 'whingers' and 'bulls***t artists'

The official Facebook account of Liberal Democratic Senator David Leyonhjelm has sent offensive replies to
early-childhood workers' message complaints, calling them "bulls***t artists" and "whingers".

A spokesperson for the Senator's office told 7 News Online the account was hijacked when it sent belittling private messages to childcare workers.

"Those comments are not from the senator. They are from someone doing admin and we are chasing up that issue internally," the spokesperson said.

Senator Leyonhjelm – who once stood in parliament to thank childless Australians – raised the eyebrows of some pre-school educators earlier this week when he suggested their job was "wiping noses and stopping the kids from killing each other".

It's claimed Liberal Democratic Senator David Leyonhjelm's official Facebook account responded to messages, however his office has said he is not responsible for them. Photo: AAP
It's claimed Liberal Democratic Senator David Leyonhjelm's official Facebook account responded to messages, however his office has said he is not responsible for them. Photo: AAP
Some of the messages sent from the Senator's official account. Photo: Supplied.
Some of the messages sent from the Senator's official account. Photo: Supplied.

The comments quickly went viral and his official social media accounts were inundated with complaints.

But the responses themselves quickly began similarly causing outrage with one childcare worker sending an apparent response to her list of tasks she undertakes in her job.

"Add 'Bulls***t Artist' to the list," the response read.

The responses were sent to several members of the public, however the Senator's office has said Senator Leyonhjelm himself is not responsible for the messages. Photo: AAP
The responses were sent to several members of the public, however the Senator's office has said Senator Leyonhjelm himself is not responsible for the messages. Photo: AAP

To another complaint, the account replied: "You seem to have mistaken me for someone interested in your whinging".

When one childcare worker called the Senator "a joke" and told him to "get with the times", the account responded with the suggestion that person should have picked a better paying job instead of seeking enjoyment.

"Stop expecting everything to be handed to you on a platter," the account replied while suggesting miners "don't enjoy digging coal".

"Jobs that are enjoyable generally don't pay well because there is an oversupply of people wanting to do them. Simple economics.

More messages sent from the Senator's official Facebook account. Photo: Supplied.
More messages sent from the Senator's official Facebook account. Photo: Supplied.

Bryanna-Kate Budge was among a number of childhood educators who received replies from the Facebook account.

The 21-year-old from Tuncurry on the NSW mid-North Coast told 7 News Online she was "gobsmacked" to read the replies from the account.

Ms Budge said that like teachers working in primary and high schools, early childhood educators worked long, unpaid hours at home and on weekends.