Question Time: No more Good Blokes in Federal Parliament but Witches are welcome

During Question Time today, the Liberal party have shown once again that they do not understand sexism.

Following yesterdays total demolition of the Liberal and National plan to accuse everything that ALP does as being “sexist” comes the LNPs newest battleground of eliminating sexism in Parliament… no more use of the word “bloke” in Federal Parliament.

In response to the use of the word ‘bloke’ Pyne asked for it to be withdrawn, this is the Liberal Party version of ending sexism.

Latika Bourke ‏@LatikaQT (political reporter)
Pyne complaining about Coalition MPs a ‘bloke.’ If I called a female a ‘sheila….’ Anna standing. #qt

Ed Husic ‏@edhusicMP (MP for Chifley)
What’s the Australian Parliament come to when someone asks to withdraw the word “bloke”?!? #strewth

Rob Mitchell ‏@RobMitchellMP (MP for McEwen)
Pyne says the term bloke is offensive! what does that say about Pyne

Peter van Onselen ‏@vanOnselenP (Murdoch media conscience)
“bloke” is not, and nor has it ever been, a sexist term…stupid point of order. #QT

However a quick perusal of Hansard show the word “bloke” used on numerous occasions (many of them from Anthony Albanese), and use of this word has never been a problem before.

 

and in other news
What is Julie Bishop wearing on her jacket? A pentagram?
is she being deliberately provocative or is it just a regular star and not a symbol of Witchcraft?

I wonder how Jewish people would feel if someone stood up in parliament and wore a star of David and weren’t Jewish, or Muslims, if someone wore a hijab and were not Muslim?

Wordcloud of Julia Gillard’s anti-misogynist speech to Parliament

The more frequently a word is used, the larger it is.

I will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man

PM Julia Gillard to Tony Abbott
“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.
The leader of the opposition says that people who hold sexist views and who are misogynists are not appropriate for high office. Well, I hope the leader of the opposition has got a piece of paper and he is writing out his resignation.
Because if he wants to know what misogyny looks like in modern Australia, he doesn’t need a motion in the house of representatives, he needs a mirror.”

Full transcript of PM Gillard’s speech here

Did Julia Gillard just destroy feminism?

Well, according to Julie ‘Stand by your Man’ Bishop, the Prime Minister did just that.

text of image: ABC News Breakfast ‏@BreakfastNews
Julie Bishop: The PM is setting back the cause of women for decades by using her gender as a shield against criticism
Source: ABC twitter

Really? many would disagree with Julie Bishop. But unlike the ABC or Murdoch Media, no one can tell you what to think. Here is the video, decide for yourself.