On Tuesday evening New Matilda published a report following an 18-month long investigation by Nina Funnell and Chris Graham, in which Arndt acknowledges she is not a doctor, has never obtained a PhD and nor is she a psychologist or clinical psychologist.
SPECIAL INVESTIGATION: Psychologist, Clinical Psychologist, Doctor Or None Of The Above? Will The Real Bettina Arndt AM Please Stand Up! https://t.co/FOKQkz8wJv#BettinaArndt #newmatilda #auspol #AustraliaDayHonours pic.twitter.com/hpWYsnPWjF
— newmatilda (@newmatilda) January 28, 2020
But Arndt, who has been credited as “Dr Arndt” – in The Australian newspaper and federal parliament – strongly denied that she sought to intentionally mislead people about her profession.
New Matilda’s report, however, comprehensively details instances where she has actively participated in the promotion of material that portrays her as either a doctor, a psychologist or clinical psychologist.
The back cover of the 2009 edition of her best-selling book The Sex Diaries reads: “Bettina Arndt is a clinical psychologist, sex therapist and social commentator,” and, “she draws on her thirty-five years of experience as a sex therapist and psychologist to provide a provocative analysis that challenges our basic assumptions about sex”.
When New Matilda put this to Arndt she initially responded that she didn’t believe what they were saying was right. The jacket of the book however indicates that it was.
Hoo boy. Turns out Bettina Arndt has never been a clinical psychologist. Her own book says she was one for 35 years. https://t.co/fiPiS3OqTY pic.twitter.com/JGigVncYr8
— Gina Rushton (@ginarush) January 28, 2020
A two-minute video produced by New Matilda contains ten examples where Bettina Arndt is described on TV, radio or in promotional material as being either a psychologist, clinical psychologist or even a doctor. Arndt fails to intervene or correct the record in any of these interviews.
https://twitter.com/pryorlisa/status/1222265429575421954?s=20
Arndt herself has shared many of these clips, dating back several years, on her website and social media accounts, without ever acknowledging that her designated titles were false.
As New Matilda reports, “it is an offence for an unregistered person to knowingly or recklessly claim to be a psychologist. This can include “using a title, name, initial, symbol, word or description” which may lead a “reasonable person” to believe they hold the title of ‘psychologist’, ‘clinical psychologist’ or ‘doctor’. Individuals found guilty of misusing a title can face up to three years jail, or a fine of up to $60,000 per offence.”
Earlier on Tuesday before New Matilda published its investigation Arndt had used her own social media to variously question the ethics and practices of Rosie Batty, Jenna Price and even Women’s Agenda.
Wow, this is so endlessly entertaining. My work is "ideologically-driven not evidence-based," says Women's Agenda. That's a real hoot from this feminist rag which endlessly distorts and misrepresents data and plays fast and loose with the truth. https://t.co/BWBS0SQmgR pic.twitter.com/hEhCYRPzsS
— Bettina Arndt (@thebettinaarndt) January 28, 2020
As far as ‘playing fast and loose with the truth’ goes, failing to correct the record about one’s professional qualifications, particularly when one is a protected title that is an offence to misuse, is rather bold.
Beyond Arndt’s interview with New Matilda she is yet to publicly comment on this story.
https://www.change.org/p/revoke-bettina-arndt-s-australia-day-honours
The report has bolstered calls for her Australia Day honours to be revoked. At the time of publishing this Change.org petition calling for a revocation had gathered 26,800 signatures.