Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has launched a blistering attack on politicians over ‘slut shaming and bullying’ in a Julia Gillard-esque speech in parliament.
Senator Hanson-Young said females from all sides of politics were sick of ‘the disgusting slurs and attacks coming from a particular group’ in parliament.
She named four male senators – Barry O’Sullivan, Fraser Anning, Cory Bernardi and David Leyonhjelm – in her speech, saying they are ‘not fit to call yourselves men’.
Greens leader Richard Di Natale had earlier spoken out against Senator O’Sullivan, calling him a ‘pig’ during a fiery exchange over Senator Hanson-Young.
‘As the person in this chamber whom the reprehensible and disgusting comments were directed to by Senator O’Sullivan, I want to make it very clear that I am thankful to Senator Di Natale for standing up and calling them out,’ Senator Hanson-Young said in parliament on Tuesday.
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young (pictured) has launched a blistering attack on male politicians in federal parliament
‘That is what real men do. Real men don’t insult and threaten women, and they don’t slut-shame them and they don’t attack them and make them feel bullied in their workplace.
‘I have sat in this chamber for weeks and weeks – months – and heard the disgusting slurs and attacks coming from a particular group in this place.
‘And I, for one, am sick of it, and I know many of my female colleagues on all sides of politics are sick of it, too.
‘And I will name you because you are not fit to be in this chamber, you’re not fit to represent your constituents and you’re not fit to call yourselves men: Senator O’Sullivan, Senator Anning, Senator Bernardi and Senator Leyonhjelm.’
Senator Di Natale was suspended from federal parliament after refusing to withdraw calling Senator O’Sullivan a ‘pig’.
The fiery exchange had broken out in the Senate chamber when Senator O’Sullivan said there was a ‘bit of Nick Xenophon in’ Senator Hanson-Young.
Greens leader Richard Di Natale (pictured) was suspended from federal parliament on Tuesday
Senator Di Natale (pictured leaving the Senate chamber) was suspended after refusing to withdraw calling Nationals senator Barry O’Sullivan a ‘pig’
‘We have endured on this side days of sexist filth coming from that man. He is a pig and he should consider and reflect on the standards he is adopting in this chamber,’ a furious Senator Di Natale shouted in parliament.
Senator O’Sullivan insisted he meant because Senator Hanson-Young didn’t show up to an inquiry, saying he didn’t mean it to be a double reference.
‘I did not make an imputation on to Senator Hanson-Young in the manner they have described,’ he later said.
Senate President Scott Ryan gave Senator Di Natale multiple opportunities to withdraw his remarks but he refused.
He was booted from parliament for the rest of Tuesday.
The president said the rare power to suspend senators had not been used for more than 15 years.
A fiery exchange had broken out in federal parliament when Senator Barry O’Sullivan (pictured) said there was a ‘bit of Nick Xenophon in’ Senator Hanson-Young
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson described Senator Hanson-Young as a ‘great actress’ after saying she saw nothing sexist about Senator O’Sullivan’s comments.
‘I see this as crocodile tears,’ Senator Hanson said.
‘Using this sexist tag because she’s a female doesn’t wash with me and a lot of other people.’
In October 2012, then-Prime Minister Julia Gillard was lauded after she spoke out against misogyny in federal parliament.
She slammed then-Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, saying ‘I will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man. I will not. And the Government will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man. Not now, not ever’.