We searched, but we couldn’t find any public reference to a male senator offering a detailed description of what he’s looking for in a woman.
Perhaps, male senators have more common sense. Or maybe it’s that we’ve been so busy reminding men to leave body parts and romantic/sexual desires out of the political sphere, that we’ve forgotten to remind the women to do so too.
Whatever it is, Palmer United Senator Jacqui Lambie’s comments yesterday that she’s looking for a ‘well-hung’ man should not be swept aside another amusing anecdote in this crazy new-look Senate we now have.
Lambie has this morning apologised for telling Hobart’s Heart 107.3 that any man she was looking to get involved in would have to have “heaps of cash” and a “package between their legs”, but not before the news went international and hundreds of thousands of baffled Australians wondered just why a woman in such a position would think it appropriate, or even amusing, to make such a comment.
In a statement issued today, she apologised for anyone who may have been “offended” by the remarks. However, she followed it up with some justification for the behaviour: “Of course my political enemies will make a big deal out of my comments, but the reality is I was talking with Kim and Dave on Heart FM – not Sarah Ferguson on the ABC.”
The environment such comments are aired in should not explain what can and can’t be tolerated. Public is public. And anyone who makes a statement about not tolerating such comments isn’t automatically a political enemy, but somebody who believes sexist remarks are sexist remarks – whether they’re made about a man or a woman, in a bar, on the ABC or on breakfast radio.
If she were a Liberal or Labor senator, Lambie would be immediately asked to explain her behaviour and possibly to stand aside. The Palmer United Party lives with different standards and gets away with a whole lot more. Last month, Lambie called Prime Minister Tony Abbott a “political psychopath”. Last week, Queensland state PUP leader Alex Douglas said his boss, Clive Palmer, was right to walk out on an interview with the ABC’s Sarah Ferguson because she was a “lady” and doesn’t have the same capacity as a man to win an argument.
All credit to Lambie for making herself known in the new Senate (can you name the other PuP senators?). But it’s a privilege and position of power that should not be taken lightly. People’s livelihoods may depend on the vote this senator holds – while she already has, and will continue, to directly contribute to legislation affecting our economy, infrastructure, resources and border protection policies.
Lambie is now one of the most powerful women in Australia. It’s not a position that should be take lightly.