Last week, Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young made a formal complaint about a derogatory comment from Liberal Democrat senator David Leyonhjelm, who told her to “stop shagging men” during a debate on violence against women. When asked to apologise, his reply to her was “fuck off”. The incident has exposed a wider grubby political culture of gossip, predation and sexualised off-mic sniping in the Senate.
Speaking to Karen Middleton, current and former senators describe a toxic culture in the upper house, where rumours and innuendo about women’s marital status, sexual behaviour and appearance are weaponised for political gain.
“It does cross a line,” says Labor MP Kate Ellis, “because people make up rumours to suggest you’re a slut and then try to suggest it’s a legitimate political story because it somehow goes to your character.”
Plus: Paul Bongiorno on Tony Abbott’s bid to “save” the government, and Dr. Alex Wodak on the opening of Melbourne’s first medically-supervised injecting centre.
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The Saturday Paper
