He won the right to govern the country earlier this year and last night Tony Abbott won another accolade, albeit one he — presumably — hadn’t campaigned for.
At last night’s Ernie Awards, presented at a sellout dinner at NSW State Parliament hosted by Labor MP Linda Burney, the Prime Minister won ‘The Clinton’, the Ernie awarded for repeat offenders of sexist behaviour.
Now in its 21st year, the Ernies recognise and ‘honour’ the most sexist comments over the past 12 months in six categories that cover media, politics, industry, judicial, celebrity and sport. Votes are tallied via a highly methodological ‘boo off’ with the almost 330 women gathered at the ceremony booing and hissing to determine the winner for each category.
In a year characterised by appalling sexism in media and politics, there was some intense competition and plenty of deserving contenders. Ernie’s co-founder and organiser Meredith Burgmann said the last two years of the awards have been the worst she can remember.
“The sheer vitriol of some of the attacks on Julia Gillard is hard to stomach. The Mal Brough menu was a particularly worthy winner” she said in a statement.
Last night’s overall winner — the recipient of the Gold Ernie — went to Sydney University’s Wesley College students for distributing stubby holders bearing the words, “It’s not rape if it’s my birthday”. Multiple winner Alan Jones took out the celebrity Ernie for calling Gillard a “liar” and saying her father “died of shame”.
Mal Brough claimed the political Ernie for the “Julia Gillard Kentucky Fried Quail – Small Breasts, Huge Thighs and a Big Red Box” Liberal party dinner menu. Meanwhile the Elaine, the Ernie awarded for comments that are the most unhelpful to the sisterhood, went to journalist Janet Albrechtsen for remarking “while lack of humour infects both sides of politics, the Labor girls in particular need to loosen their pigtails. In Canberra today, there are far too few Fred Dalys and far too many Tanya Pliberseks.”
Check out the full list of ‘winners’ below:
GOLD ERNIE and Industrial Silver Ernie
Wesley College students for distributing stubby holders bearing the words “It’s not rape if it’s my birthday.”
Political Silver Ernie
Mal Brough for the Liberal Party dinner menu featuring”Julia Gillard Kentucky Fried Quail – Small Breasts, Huge Thighs and a Big Red Box”
Media Silver Ernie
Paul Sheehan who said “The mask fell away” and that Gillard came out “snarling, accusing Abbott of having a hatred of women, a man” he said – before his paper deleted it – “who unlike the Prime Minister, has raised three daughters.”
Judicial Silver Ernie
Professor Paul Wilson who stated that “My findings were remarkably similar to studies in California and Scandinavia which suggest child victims of adult sex offenders are generally willing or active participants, and that they not infrequently initiate the sexual relationship.”
The Warney (Sport)
Nick Riewoldt who said that team mate Stephen Milne who was charged with 4 counts of rape, should be allowed to continue playing because “Milney is the absolute heart and soul of the football club.”
The Fred (Celebrity etc)
Alan Jones
“Every person in the caucus of the Labor Party knows that Julia Gillard is a liar… The old man recently died a few weeks ago of shame, To think that he has a daughter who told lies every time she stood for Parliament.”
The Elaine (For remarks least helpful to the Sisterhood)
Janet Albrechtsen
“While lack of humour infects both sides of politics, the Labor girls in particular need to loosen their pigtails. In Canberra today, there are far too few Fred Dalys and far too many Tanya Pliberseks.”
The Good Ernie
Lt General David Morrison
“On all operations, female soldiers and officers have proven themselves worthy of the best traditions of the Australian Army. They are vital to us maintaining our capability now and into the future. If that does not suit you, then get out.”
The Clinton (for repeat offenders)
Tony Abbott
Click here to read Margot Saville’s recap of last night’s events