HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SPEECH: Ministerial Code

Mr Speaker,

Two weeks ago, the Prime Minister of Australia stood in his courtyard and he said that he was updating his Ministerial Code, because, as it stood, and I quote:

“It does not speak strongly enough for the values that we should live, values of respect, respectful workplaces, of workplaces where women are respected.” End quote.

Workplaces where women are respected.

Today, Senator Cash used the protection of Senate Estimates to launch a disgraceful attack on the young women working in this building.

It was an unprovoked attack from a Minister under pressure.

Today the Minister for Jobs, attacked young women doing their jobs.

Today the Minister representing the Minister for Women, smeared young women.

Mr Speaker,

Being a staffer in this place is hard enough.

Like so many of my colleagues, I am very lucky to have smart young women working for me.  And on their behalf I am offended.

Senator Cash’s comments were ghastly, they were sexist, they were a 1950s-style throwback.

And they were a reflection on women working for all political parties.

Eventually, the Senator offered a conditional apology, one of those mealy-mouthed, weasel apologies ‘if anyone was offended’.  

Well the Prime Minister should make her offer a proper apology to all of the young women she has offended.