Scott Morrison is slammed for saying women marching against sexual violence in other countries would be ‘met with bullets’ – as thousands protest in cities around Australia
- Thousands of women joined the ‘March 4 Justice’ protest around Australia
- Scott Morrison championed the protests as a victory for freedom of speech
- He said women marching in other countries would be ‘met with bullets’
- Opponents slammed his choice of words and said ‘he just doesn’t get it’
Scott Morrison has been heavily criticised for saying that women protesting against inequality and sexual violence in other countries would be ‘met with bullets’.
As thousands of women marched in cities around Australia, including just outside Parliament House, Mr Morrison championed the right to free speech and protest – but his choice of words has sparked anger.
‘This is a vibrant liberal democracy, Mr Speaker. Not far from here, such marches, even now, are being met with bullets – but not here in this country,’ he said in Parliament.
‘Not here in this country because of this is a triumph of democracy when we see these things take place.’
Thousands of women marched in cities around Australia on Monday. Pictured: Brisbane
Greens leader Adam Bandt slammed the prime minister for the comment.
He tweeted: ‘Scott Morrison to marchers today: be glad we didn’t shoot you. Unbelievable. He just doesn’t get it.’
Liberal Senator Jane Hume said the comment should not be over-interpreted and insisted he was just making the point that Australia supports freedom of speech.
Thousands of women protested in capital cities on Monday as part of the March 4 Justice campaign.
Labor criticised Mr Morrison for not attending the Canberra rally – but he said he invited organisers to meet in his office and they refused.
Senator Hume said she did not think Mr Morrison would be welcomed by women at the march.
Scott Morrison (pictured on Monday) has been heavily criticised for saying that women protesting against inequality and sexual violence in other countries would be ‘met with bullets’
Greens leader Adam Bandt (pictured) slammed the prime minister for the comment
The mass protest comes after former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins alleged she was raped in Parliament in 2019 and Attorney-General Christian Porter denied allegations he raped a 16-year-old girl in 1988.
Ms Higgins addressed a crowd in Canberra and took a swipe at the prime minister, accusing his staff of briefing journalists with smears against her boyfriend David Sharaz.
‘Privately the media team actively undermined and discredited my loved ones,’ she said.
Speaking about sexual violence endured by one in five Australian women, Ms Higgins told the cheering crowd: ‘If it can happen in Parliament House, it can happen anywhere.’
Pictured: Brittany Higgins speaking at the March 4 Justice rally in Canberra on Monday afternoon