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AUSTRALIA-POLITICS-WOMEN-WORK
Australian senator accused of ‘slut-shaming’ parliamentarian
SYDNEY, July 3, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – An Australian senator has been accused of
“slut-shaming” a fellow parliamentarian after telling her to “stop shagging
men” in a grubby dispute that Tuesday saw the prime minister demand an
apology.
David Leyonhjelm made the derogatory remarks about fellow senator Sarah
Hanson-Young during a heated debate in parliament’s upper house last week
about legalising pepper spray to protect women.
He reportedly told her to “fuck off” when she confronted him over the
incident.
Leyonhjelm, who does not dispute what happened, repeated his comments and
aired other rumours about Hanson-Young in a weekend television interview
while refusing to apologise.
Hanson-Young, who is divorced, is threatening to sue him and Sky News, the
network that aired the interview.
“David Leyonhjelm is suggesting — because he can’t win an argument, he
wants to bully — that I am sexually promiscuous,” Hanson-Young told
broadcaster ABC Tuesday.
“He is slut-shaming me. That is what he is doing.”
Sky News has since apologised and suspended a producer for allowing the
“appalling comments” to be broadcast.
Leyonhjelm has defended himself, claiming his comment was “legitimate” and
that prior to his outburst Hanson-Young claimed “all men are rapists”, a
remark she denies making.
“I am opposed to misandry, just as I am to misogyny and I am also entitled
to call out double standards,” Leyonhjelm said.
“So arguing on the one hand that all men are evil, the enemy, they’re
rapists and sexual predators. And on the other hand having normal
relationships with men, obviously is contradictory and I can call it out.”
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called on Leyonhjelm to apologise.
“David Leyonhjelm’s offensive remarks should have been withdrawn the
moment they were uttered,” he said.
“It is not too late for him to withdraw and apologise, that type of
language has no place in parliament and it shouldn’t have a place in any
workplace.”
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1208 hrs