WE SAY: “YES, PRIME MINISTER”
The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard’s speech at a news conference yesterday, in which she said she had been the subject of a “sexist smear campaign”, has won the support of female former high-profile politicians from across the political spectrum.
Julia Gillard at yesterday’s press conference. Photograph via news.com.au.
Kerry Chikarovski, Natasha Stott Despoja and Cheryl Kernot told The Hoopla that the PM’s speech was “courageous” and it was time that misogynist behaviour in politics was recognised and denounced.
They also said personal attacks against her made it increasingly difficult for those seeking a role in public life.
Ms Gillard called the news conference to answer questions surrounding her role as an industrial lawyer at Slater & Gordon in the early 1990s when acting for an Australian Workers Union branch run by her then partner, the allegedly corrupt Bruce Wilson.
Ms Gillard rejected claims she had acted unethically or illegally.
“In terms of the people who continue to circulate these claims – will the misogynists and the nutjobs on the internet continue to circulate them? Yes they will…. they will continue to pursue these claims for motivations of their own which are malicious and not in any way associated with the facts.”
To one journalist at the press conference who asserted that it wasn’t as if the PM was ”fresh off the train from Adelaide”, Ms Gillard replied: “How old are you? Thirty-two? Let me assure you you’ll know a bit more when you’re 50 than you do now.”
We contacted a number of women who attained the highest levels of leadership in Australian politics for comment… here’s what they had to say:
“During my time as Leader of the Opposition I fronted more than one difficult press conference.
What the public don’t understand is the sometimes almost vitriolic attacks by the media can be very personal and over the top.
People expect politicians to be able to take the pressure but often don’t realise that the intensity of the scrutiny can be almost overwhelming.” Kerry Chikarovski. Former leader of the Liberal NSW Opposition. Follow her on Twitter @kerryChika
“Of course, there are gender overtones in the criticism and attacks levelled at the Prime Minister.
I am glad she has put a name and words to the behaviour to which she is so often subjected. A lot of what she has experienced is misogynist and it is time she denounced it as such.
Who would be a figure in public life these days? Unsubstantiated allegations in the media and free-flowing blog comments do not make public service, in particular politics and political leadership, an attractive choice”. Natasha Stott Despoja. Former leader of the Australian Democrats.
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104 Responses to this article
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Alex August 24, 2012
Love this piece, and bloody proud of our PM for the first time in memory!
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Bernadette August 25, 2012
I think Cheryl Kernot hit the nail on the head when she referred to anonymity in social media. I think if we could remove the anonymous posters/tweeters/facebookers (ie anyone not using their real name) then we would immediately halve the cowardly vitriol we see too often. The most vile comments always seem to come from anonymous people. I suspect many of these nasty pieces of work are actually lovely in real life.
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Susan August 24, 2012
From this site, there, at one time ,was a link to Larry Pickering ‘s site. I could not believe my eyes-the most bitter,mysogonistic, sexual innuendo rubbish I had ever seen. It was sheer hatred both for Julia Gillard and really all women-their marital status,their sex live etc. I joined the group to ask what the facts were. I was bullied,called phsychotic,a labour party stooge,a member of the Fabian Society,a Get-up Infiltrator and the list goes on.I was constantly urged to leave the site as I didn’t belong there with my “views!” All I asked was on what basis were all these accusations coming from and asked politely for facts. More bullying and abuse. I didn’t take it personally but was astounded that this unfettered hatred was being circulating freely.
Good on you Julia for standing up to these “hysterical” accusations. A very big learning curve for all women-don’t suppose any of us is going back into our box soon. What can we do to stop this- in a constructive way? -
Sharon Ellam August 24, 2012
I’m bloody proud of her anyway Alex & she’s lived up to my expectations. Interesting that when the opposition & it’s backers (the ‘boys club’) can’t find a competent leader to represent them they have to get slimier & slimier. And this woman continues to see it as an opportunity to let herself show her metal. I’m not going to say that she has balls, since I deplore the way that some people seem to think that giving a strong woman masculine qualities makes her seem stronger. I’m simply going to say that she’s a good strong woman. Onya Julia !
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Tim Murphy August 24, 2012
Great post.
I think Julia should sue The Australian and to mitigate any perception of abuse of office immediately nominate a charity any and all damages go to. To reprint statements they had previously apologised for is completely unacceptable and The Australian should be punished for it.
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savetherange August 24, 2012
She should sue. They will say it again and again in some form or other if they can get away with just an apology. Apologies have boring headlines. They do not grab the same attention as the bullshit article with the slanderous headline. It’s not fair play. Its un Australian. They deserve to lose share price and readership and advertising dollars and position of influence.
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William Telfson August 24, 2012
Why is the Federal Coalition happy to associate itself with Larry Pickering? Their whole approach makes me sick.
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Jiuki August 24, 2012
Great read. Fully agree its time to stop the sexist and misogynist environment in our politics.
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Ned Manning August 24, 2012
Isn’t it interesting that most of the coverage of the Press Conference (largely by male journalists) has focussed on anything but the sexist nature of the attacks on Julia Gillard? On Lateline the sexist nature of these attacks wasn’t even mentioned. It is clear that many male journalists simply don’t see sexism even if it is staring them in the face.
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Jane August 24, 2012
I watched the entire press conference. PM JG was extraordinary – I don’t ever remember seeing a political performance like this before. She is amazing – well done and thank you for standing up to those absurb claims by many ‘so called male commentators’. Go girl!!!
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Maggie Kennedy August 24, 2012
I’m anything but proud of the PM, who, in Parliament refers to the Opposition to Abbott ” The useless men behind you ” but cries Mysogynist, when its her turn.. then all the female pollies line up behind her. liked parrots……Pilbersek, Roxon, Wong and start the mud slinging, but somehow this is never labelled man-hating.
Pathetic to watch, pathetic in a PM.
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Gabrielle August 25, 2012
Oh please, give it a rest. This malicious character assassination tactic has become so ludicrous that conservatives are looking like very nasty people.
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TraceyA August 24, 2012
Go PM! You rock. There could not have been a starker contrast between the substance on display at the PM’s press conference yesterday and the truly woeful performance of the LOTO on 7.30 the previous night.
And I agree wholeheartedley with Sharon above. It irks me when “balls” are invoked to denote strength. Seems to me that ovaries are every bit as capable of getting the job done.
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Kerrie August 24, 2012
No male PM has ever had to deal with this type of tripe. By mutual, if unspoken agreement, their peccadilloes have gone unreported – and a good thing, too. Gillard has put up with so much sexist crap and innuendo. Yesterday’s reaction was all the more powerful for being a long time coming. She’s had her spew – now she can get back to running the country and keeping Mr Rabbit in his hutch
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moorie August 24, 2012
At least she has strength of character unlike the leader of the opposition whose only claim to fame is that he looks ridiculous in budgie smugglers and as for Christopher Pyne he reminds of the little boy who should be sucking his thumb and holding on to Paddington Bear……..
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HQ August 24, 2012
The PM has ovaries! Proud, strong, capable and highly intelligent. She doesn’t fudge, ah ah ah, or spend time staring or nodding rather than answering. She is formidable, and is doing a credible and positive job as PM in extraordinary circumstances: the non-policy, slogan ridden fear attitude and position of the Opposition but also the changing media reality. As the first female PM and in this environment, I am in admiration of her ability and equanimity.
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Bev August 24, 2012
Great to see women of other political parties supporting our PM and the comments of Kerry and Natasha are gracious.
Thanks Hoopla for bringing women together. I’m excessively proud of our PM for the class she showed when receiving such slimy questions from Sid Maher and The Australia
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Amanda August 24, 2012
What has been exposed since Gillard was elected is that sexism is alive and well in the halls of parliament house. It doesn’t make me feel very confident that any male can fairly represent the female majority of the population. it reminds me of the attitude of men towards women in the 60′s and make no mistake, this is the attitude of the opposition. ‘Get back in the kitchen woman and leave the governing to us men.’
What is truly frightening though is that young females are watching this play out and I wonder if they are backing away from a career in politics in the future. Perhaps that is the intention of the predominantly male media. I now understand why Gillard is targeting female bloggers.
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kkk2012 August 24, 2012
I dont like Ms Gillard but admire her strength and stamina
I think the language used in her speech wasnt appropriate for the office of a prime minister
Mr Obama has severe attacks from the rabid right wing about his race etc and he handles them with grace and wit
Thats a classy man
The alp are the dregs of the middle class and it sadly shows with their behaviour
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Sandra August 24, 2012
I concur with all of you – always knew that Julia was made of strong stuff and she has a great brain too!
Go you good thing!!! -
The Huntress August 24, 2012
Great article and good for Julia for standing up and speaking out! It’s wonderful to see our leader develop into a strong and gutsy woman who is handling the ugly aspects of parliament fearlessly.
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Rhoda August 24, 2012
Yes I’m very much afraid that men see women as fair game in more ways than one. I dislike though that women call on women to have balls. Women don’t need balls – there’s enough of those around now – and there’s a concentration of them at the top of the tree. Steel maybe.
Which Julia Gillard’s displayed yesterday in front of all those jackals. Good on her. I’m beginning to think she has it in her to do our sex proud.
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gina August 24, 2012
The media is at times a nasty boys club
Ms Gillard is paving the way for future generations to enter politics
Listening to the abc this morning with a right wing commentator was laughable
Rabid right win rhetoric and ignorance has no bounds for silly analysis on Ms Gillards capability as a lawyer
What a nasty brat that young man was on the abc
hilarious!!
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Heather August 24, 2012
Way to go, PM. Take it right up to them and put real steel into your responses. It seems it’s the only way to gain respect and keep the bullying, hectoring boy’s club back in their place.
Julia reminded me yesterday of the great Paul Keating, who took no bullshit from anyone.I’m with you all the way.
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mary August 24, 2012
Peter Van Onselen gets crazy at times on his Sky news show
A panellist described our pm as a muppet
Silly and puerile
Grow up people!!
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Janet August 24, 2012
Julia Gillard is doing more for Australian women than any PM in our history. Tony Abbot on the other hand will forever be associated with the delusional mind of Larry Pickering.
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Rod August 24, 2012
Yep that fits nicely with my sentiments.
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diane August 24, 2012
Gina
That “brat” put up an anti-union rant to discredit her credibility as a pm
The conversation went off on a tangent
They are attention seeking individuals who want bad press
They wear it as a badge of honour
They think they are intellectuals which is sad at times
Gen y get very hawkerish and selfish
#self entitled yuppy
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Rod August 24, 2012
When one maintains the dignity and deserving respect of Prime Ministerial responsibilities the language expected and used, must also be dignified, respectful and diplomatic. Exposure of imbalance between responsible caring nurture that decisions taken will be “good for all the children” has never been more pronounced than the Prime Ministers wisdom to ignore the gutter sourced vitriolic slander dribbling from Peta Credlin’s endless script of negativity blowing from the limp minded self interests within the trousers of the liberal Opposition’s chief muck raker. So when Julia Gillard steps aside from her Prime Ministerial lodge and represents her self as a 50 year old woman we see her inner strength absorbing and meeting the baying barrage of media flesh eaters for over an hour we are impressed. Prime Minister Gillard “You Rock”.
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grannie August 24, 2012
About time women of aust.stood up for our pm.
What a great role model, for our daughters,yesterdays presd conf so inspiring, for those who have not seen it is on line.
Seemed some still want more answers, but,have no questions
Left to ask. Pity these same prople did not ask about policies
And educate themselves and the people, well of course the opp.
Dont seem to have any, that we hear of, except bringing
Back work choices, and going back to the howard years -
diane August 24, 2012
Rod
So glad you mentioned Ms Credland
See what happens when holow apparatchiks take over and do it for the power only advantage to win??
Its ugly and lost of any moral and ideological substance to their message for an educated audience
We are left politically homeless and the polity is the loser
sigh and yawn
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diane August 24, 2012
Cant wait to see people like her come out behind the shadows and into a prominent role
Future gen y strong women or not??
Wait with baited breath
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Mark August 24, 2012
Always watch QT when parlt is sitting. Was not surprised by Julia’s performance yesterday (watched it from beginning to end) as this is the strength she displays in the House.
We need to see more of it – and the media MUST focus more attention on TA and his lack of coherent policies. -
Kerry Lynne August 24, 2012
Can someone explain what “sexism” is ?.. and give examples… Im a bit confused ?
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JoanneH August 24, 2012
The Australian was yesterday forced to apologise to the Prime Minister after publishing false claims she set up a ”trust fund”.
It is the third time since 2007 the newspaper has published, and been forced to retract, false allegations about her conduct at Slater and Gordon. It demonstrates how desperate Rupert Murdoch and News Limited are to be rid of her and the Labor Government. It is disappointing to see Fairfax, and more recently the ABC, lazily following News Limited, and repeating daily the same concocted stories almost word for word, and joining in demanding that the Prime Minister must reply – or else. We are being let down badly by a lot of media that is tainting news with biased opinions.
Thank goodness for blogs like this, that give information and allow for different opinions to be expressed. -
Kieran August 24, 2012
The way wimen are treated in politics in this country – on both sides of the political spectrum – is disgusting. Why punters and pundits get so vitriolic when they see a woman in power completely perplexes me.
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Sara August 24, 2012
I wonder if our Prime Minister reads the Hoopla? I hope she does, and that it gives her some strength to meet the day and all the morons she encounters within it.
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Sue August 24, 2012
This is it for me. Although I have been a reader of the Australian for over 40 years, mainly because of writers such as Nicholas Rothwell and his excellent coverage of Indigenous affairs, plus good overseas coverage from the Times and the WSJ, I now find the unpleasant tone of the paper overrides what was once the best journalism in Australia.
I am not a particular fan of Julia Gillard, mainly because of her misguided support of American style excessive emphasis on testing of basic skills in primary school education, but no one deserves the vicious attack that she is under.
Today I unsubscribe from the Australian. -
Maggie Kennedy August 24, 2012
Sexism is Gillard telling a conference in Melbourne that apparently Tony Abbot can’t read. Would she make a statement like that to a member of her own sex ?
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Lydia August 24, 2012
Our Prime Minister was amazing at that conference – grace and absolute, beautiful strength under immense pressure. Apparently it lasted around 1 1/2 hours! I am sick to death of the media’s and other politicians’ attacks on her. She was never my favourite for PM, but the rampant misogyny (it goes far beyond mere ‘sexism’) must be put down. What is that ridiculous excuse for a human being, Larry Pickering, on? Learn some respect, people! She’s the Prime Minister! And, yes, I do hope she reads the Hoopla to see what support she has on this issue. And, BTW, as a lawyer, I also dislike the attacks on her professionalism as a partner of Slaters to be offensive – where do people get off, making completely unsubstantiated claims that a partner (no less) of a large and reputable law firm, would deliberately lie and ‘falsify’ documents for a client? I think the legal profession should also step up and defend her. It’s disgraceful.
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Lydia August 24, 2012
Sorry, I meant ‘find the attacks on her …’ etc. I was in a bit of temper writing that!
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Marnie August 24, 2012
@kkk2012 “The ALP are the dregs of middle class”?????
One must assume from your comment that you (no doubt rightly) believe the coalition are from the upper class, the wealthy snobs who have no idea how the majority of Australians struggle to survive and who look down their noses at people who call a spade a spade without a sneering put down. The ALP have a proud history of being from the working classes, they know they have to fight to survive against the ‘boy’s club’, the sexism, or the constant snide remarks.
You said “Mr Obama has severe attacks from the rabid right wing about his race etc and he handles them with grace and wit”Well so did Ms Gillard until she realised that grace and wit does not work with Australian males. You have to fight them at their own level and she did so with as much grace and decorum as that would allow.
Well done Prime Minister! You have my whole hearted support. -
Pete Fumberger August 24, 2012
Oh my /;-$&/ god, this thing you lot revere has dignity and courage and all the other hoopla that you girls spout off.
Have you heard this wretched vile woman in parliament, and this thing has the temerity and effrontery to sook on about sexism.
As I have written before on here, you lot are fair /$:);&/ dinkum deluded. Hooray you shouted, we now have a woman as PM, oh so much joy was to be had.
Sadly for you lot you just cannot see just how incompetent and out of her league she is. It’s all there for everybody to see in all the policies this inept lot has brought out. The deaths and squandered billions and utterly ridiculous and dangerous policies, but it’s okay because it is a woman and of the right side of politics, which would be left.
I’m all for the right person getting the right job, no matter what gender, colour, race, sexual persuasion, but just make sure it is the right person.
She was voted in, well, she connived her way in using bribes and deals with the even more vile and stupid greens, and look at what he have today.
Those of you who voted for this harridan solely on her being a woman, and that is debatable, can be justifiably proud of their vote. Yes, I will put the sarcasm tag up for those who didn’t catch it.
As for the sexism bit. Isn’t she the shrew who called Pyne a mincing poodle?
Please ladies, be objective in your criticisms of those you purport to be sexist. You lot are sexist for voting for that thing based on her gender
She is without doubt the worst PM this country has ever had the displeasure of having in charge, and that include the labor luvvies’ living treasure the goofster, and the one she knifed in the back, the kruddster.
But to you morons that’s more than okay because she is a woman, and when things go bellyup, as they have done big time, it’s all about us misogynistic pigs being misogynistic pigs.
It’s like saying gillard is disabled, needing extra help to get by, which she does, and I guess also that seeing as she is only 50, she is but a young and naive woman.
As for the likes of kernot and stott-whatever, two more examples of failed politicians lashing out at the sexism because, like many people in this country today, cannot find it to look within themselves to see just where their failures lie. It’s always someone else’s fault.
There is an old saying, ‘Women bitch when they’re getting too much, and they bitch when they are not getting enough’. Yeah, I know, I’m just a sexist misogynistic bastard and very much in need of help. But at least I don’t need help realising that gillard is a shrewish harridan who is incompetent and inherently dangerous.
Gee, what next, the military will promote a woman just because, in charge of soldiers in a war-time situation, and the token female is needed to appease the powers that be.
Please, I beseech thee, vote in and promote people based on their competence and ability, not on their gender.
And don’t just prattle on that women should serve on the frontlines because they can do the same things as men. If that is the case then don’t have sports solely for women, let’s see how they go up against the blokes, and then we can send them off to war and have them come home in body bags.
A strong, determined woman equates to a lying, rat cunning harridan who just wants to hold on to power for as long as possible, and in the interim before being unceremoniously booted out of office, it and the rest of her lying vile lot will do a scorched policy on our country.
But that’s okay, she is a woman and you lot don’t care. A woman is our PM and that is all that matters.
Woofrickin’hoo!!!!!!!!!P.S. I am 55 and have never been this political, but that was before the idiots voted in the kruddster and his backstabber. At least Hawke and Keating had some redeeming qualities, but those two, not one scintilla, it even less that that simpering, nasty little Tin-Ton lookalike dweeb.
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JoanneH August 24, 2012
Must be son of MEZ
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Rosie August 24, 2012
JoanneH – classic comment!
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VRog August 24, 2012
@Pete Fumberger: wow…just wow. Thank you for providing an example of exactly the kind of evil and misogynistic vitriol Gillard had the guts to stand up to. I feel sorry for you and the women in your life. Such bitterness and hatred…tsk tsk.
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Jules August 24, 2012
@Pete – I think you may have missed the point of Gillard’s speech yesterday.
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Benison O'Reilly August 24, 2012
Life is too short to read your verbose drivel, Pete. Haven’t you got anything better to do with your time. Probably not. Sad.
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Benison O'Reilly August 24, 2012
Oops, forgot the question mark.
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VRog August 24, 2012
Abbott is finally being outed as the small-minded, ineffectual and dangerous bigot he is. Gillard’s brilliant performance at the press conference further serves to highlight Abbott’s inferiority, as a potential leader of this country and a human being. Good on you Julia – you rock!
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Linda August 24, 2012
I was initially surprised it had taken taken so long to start on this but on relfelction we did have the issues around an empty kitchen and fruit bowl, no children etc so really the PMs gender has been under attack the entire time. A gutsy performance yesterday from our PM which should be applauded by all women regardless of your political persuasion.
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Jules August 24, 2012
Julia, I may not agree with some of your policies but today you have 100% of my support for standing up against this vile behaviour that exists in sections of Australian politics and the corporate world. You have done alot for future generations of Australian woman. For that we thank you.
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Dorothy @ Singular Insanity August 24, 2012
Finally, we’re talking about the elephant in the room.
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Ro. Watson August 24, 2012
Oh honorables~ you have this distinction with reason!
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Amanda August 24, 2012
@ Pete Fumberger “Yeah, I know, I’m just a sexist misogynistic bastard and very much in need of help…”
Yes, you are and yes you do.
Sadly, contrary to what you hoped to achieve, your vile vitriol reinforces what Ms Gillard said. She IS the victim of a sexist smear campaign and your post is full of prime examples.
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debbiep August 24, 2012
Over the years I often joked about Role Reversal. Is men ‘becoming’ women and women ‘becoming ‘men. Then, last night while watching Lateline it dawned on me that I was watching 3 men (journalists) sitting around a table ‘gossiping’ about our FEMALE PM.
The only thing missing was the hair for curlers .
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Mary August 24, 2012
Man can you imagine being a female in Pete’s life. If you hapen to have a different opinion than his, he thinks it’s because you are a useless female!! People usually resort to sexism/gender insults because they don’t have anything to back up their arguement. They have nothing so they go for an easy target. All of our PM’s (which have been male until now) broke promises they made before being elected, all have made unpopular decisions, and all have made decisions that in hindsight they would have probably done differently. How easy we forget. Of course one eyed Labor supporters and one eyed Liberal supporters only see what the other party does wrong, not their own. Unfortunately women have trouble warming to Tony because he has time and time again put his foot in his mouth with his comments on women. Good on you Julia for bringing this out in the open and making them accountable.
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Rees August 24, 2012
Applauding this honourable woman
Thank you Julia Gillard -
Rhoda August 24, 2012
Ahem Pete – that’s one of the most misogynist rants I’ve ever had the misfortune to read. So pray tell which of the candidates has all the qualities you are seeking in a leader. Just so we know next time.
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Bettina August 24, 2012
I think that Julia’s problem is that she is normally too polite and that she uses reason, logic and temperate speech, unlike the members of the opposition. She has been treated unfairly by the press and it was great to see her in this unusual press conference, answering every question with detail and honesty. Good on you, Julia! Actually, you don’t have a problem; when people speak so grubbily about you, it reflects on their character, not yours.
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Harley Breen August 24, 2012
G’day everyone, I wasn’t going to comment on this. But then a ‘man’ (hi peter, you alright mate? You a bit worked up there buddy?) got on and flapped about like an old pair of mouth eaten golf pants in the wind. I’m a bloke, I like bloke shit. And I am sick of the horrific words that dribble out of some of ‘my peoples’ mouths, not to mention are willing to type out for everyone to see.
To the women on here – and everywhere – I would like to apologise for the behavior of some of the members of my gender. I will be better than that! I will raise my son to be better than that!
The world will change. Things will get better. These dinosaurs will die. Well done to the PM for her leadership for women and men, and to the author of this article.
Yours sincerely - Harley Breen a bloke.
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Carole August 24, 2012
@Rod. Oh my God , Rod , you do have a way with words. Phew!!!!!!!!!! I need more. ” the gutter sourced vitriolic slander dribbling from PETA Credlins endless script of negativity blowing from the limp minded self interests within the trousers of the Liberal opposition. Sigh!!!!!!!!!!!!! my hero.
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Benison O'Reilly August 24, 2012
The feedback on 702 Sydney this morning (admittedly the ABC, I know) was all positive for the PM, too. Great to hear, especially as many of the callers were men.
While we’re on the topic of brilliant redheads, Leigh Sales’ skewering of Tony Abbott on Wednesday was a sight to behold.
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KerryLynne August 24, 2012
Seriously, could someone pls tell me what they understand as sexism and provide examples.. ? I really want to know ?
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Solid gold creativity August 24, 2012
Yesterday, Julia Gillard gave up being a manager and became a leader. Hurrah!
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annie August 24, 2012
I have two visions one, JG answering the questions in a dignified manner and TA saying nothing and shaking with rage . Both under pressure , with very different attitude. I could never vote for a leader who has anger issues regardless of political view.
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Silei August 24, 2012
I have nothing to add except that I’m proud of Julia Guillard too.
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RobynMarie August 24, 2012
Joanne H, I thought the same – where is Mez? Banned maybe?
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Heather frost August 24, 2012
Well thank you Ladies. We have all been subject to
discrimination, even victim, but I despair that these men
would subject our Prime Minister who is responsible to
us all in all things along with her advisers.There is something
in it for them. Selling out and sold short. Was Dad dominant
or was Mum a manipulative control freak? Are they abusing their power or grasping for glory on their decline! -
dee August 24, 2012
As the first woman and first Labor to win the seat of Benalla in 2000 after 97 years of National Party rule …I was subjected to the most vile mysogynist attacks from the right wing of the electorate and local right wing newspapers to the point where two women one a Secretary of local Nat Party branch and the other Secretary for a local Liberal Party branch both resigned their positions because they were so disgusted by the attacks they resigned to support me. I was attacked by the LNP because I was divorced, raised my three children on my own was blonde…you name it they attacked. The final straw was the vicious attack on my ability to do the job because I have a physical disability where blatant lies were told regarding my condition. What the LNP do is get their lackys to do their dirty work so it looks like the MP’s or candidates have clean hands just as the Abbott et al have done sending Pickering out to do their dirty work. The LNP do dirty and vicious a million times better than Labor ever could.
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Wendy Green August 25, 2012
Have just been on news.com.au to read what they had to report about PM Gillard’s speech and, hey, guess what? They have removed any evidence of the story! Why am I not surprised?!
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PGO August 25, 2012
Will Pete Fumberger accept the financial benefits being accorded to all with the carbon price compensation.
is he a pensioner who received the biggest pension rise in
history. Yep. thought so. Does he believe his local shock jock.
You betcha. -
JoanneH August 25, 2012
Ita Buttrose came out yesterday in support of the Prime Minister. She called on the 900 business women at a Docklands breakfast to speak out against the ongoing unreasonable “personal criticisms” of Ms Gillard and other high-profile women. She said she believed that politicians should be criticised and held accountable on policy matters but not body shape, eating habits, fashion and reproductive choices.
She also had a swipe at the ABC’s Q&A program for allowing guest panellist Germaine Greer to pass inappropriate comments on Julia Gillard’s figure, and thought Tony Jones should have stepped in to say “those comments are not only unacceptable but completely irrelevant.”It will be interesting to see how the matter is treated this coming Q&A when Germaine appears again. I notice they describe her as ‘Feminist icon and provocateur’!
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Pete Fumberger August 25, 2012
It is a very sad indictment on the ladies out there who think gillard is a strong and determined woman. She is nothing but a lying, conniving, vile person, but to many out there, and sadly, many men as well, she is a great example to us all.
Again, it is sad that people think it more than okay that the thing who is our PM, it who is doing such a terrible job of governing the country, who lies and schemes, who lets the likes of thompson off the hook because she knows all about union corruption with her young and naive love-in with wilson, who allows 100s to die at sea, not caring one scintilla, and much much more, all to the detriment of our country, like aligning its party to the greens, according to you lot, all of that is okay because a woman is our PM.
Please girls (oh dear, there is that mean misogynistic streak again), there are none so blind as those who do not want to see? You wanted a woman as PM, and she has set back all the great work of the suffragettes in this country, and yes, even the work of Germaine Greer (before she lost the plot big time). And you are all so proud of her.
Again, you lot are deluded. Promote people on their abilities, get rid of quotas and maybe, just maybe, the ALP, in 10 years or more, might be a political force again.
No, can’t have that. Let’s stuff the country up just as long as we have a woman in charge. The glass ceiling has been shattered, we can do anything, jules the liar has shown us the way.
And yet you belittle and denigrate and use terms that if us so-called misogynistic pigs used on gillard you’d be all pulling out your armpit hairs and calling for us to be castrated.
You sheilas on here are trying so hard to be shrewish gillard wannabes. Now that is something truly to aspire to.
Oh, before I go, and there will be no more comments from me on this article, thank you for the blog in actually allowing my posts to be aired, where I can be pilloried and vilified and called names, names which bother me none, because it answers all my questions on just who reveres this rancid woman PM.
I’d be laughing at your comments if it wasn’t so bloody serious, you lot really mean it. Pathetically sad.And slightly off topic, has anybody come up with a job in Australia where us horrible blokes are paid more for doing the exact same work as you poor underpaid disenfranchised sheilas?
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Yolanda August 25, 2012
Sometime it is necessary to fight fire with fire for wind and water just wont do. Those that live in glass houses, we all know should not throw rocks; and when bullets are fired it is time to take action. The men which lead the pack of media attackers needs to but their egos away and go back to reading the ethics which they should adhere to as so ‘journalists’. If it is not in the public interest it should not be reported. No one cares about the trivialities that happened 17 years ago. There are millions other topics of national interest that are ignored every day by the media. It is time for this country, and all in it, to stop pointing the finger and look within; that where changes begin.
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JoanneH August 26, 2012
Pete…….stop drinking!
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Mary August 25, 2012
Pete you say we women only voted for Jula because she is a women. Isn’t that the same reason you didn’t vote for her. So what is the difference between your reason and the people who voted for her because she is female. By the way I didn’t vote or her and it had no bearing on her gender.
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Rhoda August 25, 2012
I really don’t think men get it – at all. They can’t take our PM seriously because she’s a woman. Wasn’t it Germaine who said that women have little idea how much men hate them?
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dee August 26, 2012
Pete just proved the point…he has Tony Abbott syndrome…
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Ian August 27, 2012
Having arrived late to the party and just read Petes invective I can only come to one conclusion.
Somewhere deep in Petes’ murky past a vibrant, intelligent young red haired girl laughed at the size of his dick. There can be no other explanation for the pent up bile he is spewing.
Pete, mate, here is a little clue…..all women laugh at the size of what we hold, both in our hands and imagination. Get over it.
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Fran August 27, 2012
Wow!
And I wondered why society has a huge problem with bullying!!!
For 2 years now the main stream media and the opposition have used bullying tactics to get their message across
IT HAS BEEN WORKING
How do you protect children, adolecents, adults, and yes PM’s from bullying?
How do you put a stop to allegations and untruths being said about you?
How do you respond to being bullied?
The PM’s answer is to have a news conference, be gruelingly questioned in front of everyone for near and hour whilst conducting youself with honor, using facts, and to the point, stand your ground and not bully back, lie or strech truths, Whilst sending a message to the bullies to be accountable for their words and actions with facts and proof.
To Julia Gillard,
You have lead by example, and I for one, congragulate you for showing the public how to stand up to being bullied -
Carole August 27, 2012
Fran , I agree with you.
The tactics of the Liberal National Party are very deliberate, in the Media and in the Parliament, these are : Personal abuse, bullying and disruption.
You will have noticed that every time the government has important announcements to make there will be a stunt by the LNP which the Media prefer to report and that same media ask the Labor Party why can’t they get their message across????In the Parliament the LNP have suspended question time more than 50 times which then allows Abbott to launch into a screaming yelling tirade of abuse mainly directed at Julia Gillard.
The Labor Party response to this is for all but 2 or 3 of their members to leave the Chamber leaving usually Tony Albanese ( The Leader of the House ) to respond.Obviously Abbott and the LNP thought they could break Julie Gillard with there sustained
attacks , rest assured these attacks haven’t finished and will no doubt continue to the next election.Julia Gillard has proved that not only has she got the guts ,determination and intelligence for the job ,she has actually pushed through more than 300 pieces of legislation in a hung parliament with an opposition that votes NO to everything.
Strong as she is she’ll still need your support.
Keep speaking out people and maybe we can force the discussion onto Policy rather than Smear and Abuse. -
caroline October 12, 2012
Good on you Peter. Am I the only lady on your side?
possibly cause there are not too many of us left who liked it when men were men and women were women all doing there rightful roles and respecting each other. Iam so ashamed of all this stuff, wish she could just go poof. -
caroline October 12, 2012
Good on you Peter. Am I the only lady on your side?
possibly cause there are not too many of us left who liked it when men were men and women were women all doing there rightful roles and respecting each other. Iam so ashamed of all this stuff, wish she could just go poof. -
sue Bell December 30, 2012
Julia Gillard…bonza sheila.
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FhjAmABgS May 7, 2013
I was bought this as a gift through buddies who frequented us for that summer time as well as knew just how much we love to our fruit juice. The old juicer really was upon it’s last legs, very clunky and to be honest it really was a discomfort to wash up after it. This intended we didn’t use it anywhere close to almost as much ast we might have liked to do. That one is a real
