Post by tam on Oct 12, 2012 12:25:01 GMT 10
www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/tony-abbott-joke-backfires-on-labor/story-fn59niix-1226494015756
LABOR faces claims it has been "hoist with its own petard" after senior ministers attended a union function at which an offensive joke was told about Tony Abbott and his chief of staff Peta Credlin a day after Julia Gillard declared she would "call" sexism and misogyny wherever she saw it.
The Prime Minister yesterday condemned the joke, made at a function hosted by the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union, but her deputy Wayne Swan, Housing Minister Brendan O'Connor and Health Minister Tanya Plibersek remained at the function after the joke was told.
This sparked accusations of hypocrisy from Liberal frontbenchers after Ms Gillard had condemned Liberal MPs for not walking out on the notorious Young Liberals dinner at which Alan Jones sparked outrage with his remarks that Ms Gillard's late father "died of shame".
The furore forced a string of Labor ministers to condemn the tasteless joke, closing an extraordinary parliamentary week in which Ms Gillard had attacked the Opposition Leader for sexism and misogyny after he sought the removal of Speaker Peter Slipper over a series of lurid texts.
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Last night some Labor MPs expressed concern that the gains the party was making with women over the sexism attack on Mr Abbott may be overshadowed by losses in support from blue-collar men.
While the Labor frontbenchers present at the meeting condemned the joke yesterday, it emerged that no figure from the ALP, the union movement or the comedian concerned, Allan Billison, had apologised directly to Ms Credlin last night.
Mr Swan, who stayed at the union function to give a speech after the comedian's routine, said: "This was a comment made by a stand-up comedian which clearly crossed the line, which is why I conveyed my strong objections to the union this morning, though on reflection I should have done that last night."
LABOR faces claims it has been "hoist with its own petard" after senior ministers attended a union function at which an offensive joke was told about Tony Abbott and his chief of staff Peta Credlin a day after Julia Gillard declared she would "call" sexism and misogyny wherever she saw it.
The Prime Minister yesterday condemned the joke, made at a function hosted by the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union, but her deputy Wayne Swan, Housing Minister Brendan O'Connor and Health Minister Tanya Plibersek remained at the function after the joke was told.
This sparked accusations of hypocrisy from Liberal frontbenchers after Ms Gillard had condemned Liberal MPs for not walking out on the notorious Young Liberals dinner at which Alan Jones sparked outrage with his remarks that Ms Gillard's late father "died of shame".
The furore forced a string of Labor ministers to condemn the tasteless joke, closing an extraordinary parliamentary week in which Ms Gillard had attacked the Opposition Leader for sexism and misogyny after he sought the removal of Speaker Peter Slipper over a series of lurid texts.
.
. .
Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.
Recommended Coverage
.
.
Roxon accused of text 'cover-up'
.
.
Double standards a stunning display
.
.
Going beyond whatever it takes
...
End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.
.
Last night some Labor MPs expressed concern that the gains the party was making with women over the sexism attack on Mr Abbott may be overshadowed by losses in support from blue-collar men.
While the Labor frontbenchers present at the meeting condemned the joke yesterday, it emerged that no figure from the ALP, the union movement or the comedian concerned, Allan Billison, had apologised directly to Ms Credlin last night.
Mr Swan, who stayed at the union function to give a speech after the comedian's routine, said: "This was a comment made by a stand-up comedian which clearly crossed the line, which is why I conveyed my strong objections to the union this morning, though on reflection I should have done that last night."
