Aussie MP under fire for 'misogynistic' remark about 'dopey, stupid woman'
The Queensland Premier has been forced to reprimand one of her ministers over a “vile” and "misogynistic" comment made towards a female Opposition MP in state parliament.
Debate around proposed amendments to the Health Practitioner Regulation Bill boiled over on Wednesday when Agriculture Minister Mark Furner lashed out at the Shadow Health Minister.
“What a dopey, stupid woman you are,” he is accused of saying to Ros Bates.
The Opposition MP later addressed parliament over the “deeply offensive, misogynistic and unparliamentary” comment.
“That remark is offensive to all women in this parliament,” Ms Bates said.
“The premier must take action to set a standard that this behaviour will not be tolerated.”
Premier Palaszczuk forced to step in
Following Mr Furner’s apology to the house, in which he withdrew his remarks and apologised “unreservedly”, he’s been given a talking to by the premier.
On Thursday morning Annastacia Palaszczuk’s office confirmed to Yahoo News Australia the premier has since spoken to Mr Furner.
A spokesperson for Ms Palaszczuk said “the minister has apologised” and “the premier expects all MPs to be respectful.”
But it wasn’t good enough for the opposition.
“What a disgrace,” Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie tweeted. “An apology doesn’t cut it.”
“What standard is the premier prepared to accept,” Shadow Treasurer David Janetzki wrote online.
A decade after Julia Gillard’s misogyny speech
The comment comes almost 10 years to the day since former Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s misogyny speech.
In 2012 she infamously told the then-Opposition Leader Tony Abbott that the Government would “not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man.”
“Not now, not ever,” Ms Gillard cried.
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On Wednesday night Opposition MP Deb Frecklington, who slammed Mr Furner’s slur as “vile", pointed out that he was in the federal Labor Party with Ms Gillard at the time.
“Ten years ago Julia Gillard stood in federal parliament and spoke about the misogynistic behaviour,” she told parliament.
“Well look at the misogynistic behaviour and it was the Minister [Furner], he sat in the federal Labor Party with Julia Gillard at the time.
“Well it’s obvious he hasn’t learned anything.”
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