On Wednesday night, more than 350 women will come together to judge the 22nd annual ‘Ernie Awards for Sexist Remarks. Through a technical voting system of ‘booing’ while the short-listed offenders are read out during the gala dinner, the honourable award winners will be determined.
So, who’s up for the list of gongs across six categories covering media, political, judicial, industrial and sport? And who will take home the trophy for boys behaving better — that is ‘The Good Ernie’?
There were 100 nominations across all categories, with 23 for politicians — three times more than in any category.
Those expected to do well include former MP Eddie Obeid for telling Minister Phil Costa, “you need to sack that bitch”, and Christopher Pyne for declaring a rise in HECS won’t hurt women because, “they will not be able to earn the high incomes that say dentists and lawyers earn”.
Meanwhile, there’s Piers Akerman who reckons the ABC’s cartoon character Peppa Pig is a “weird feminist”, Mathias Cormann for saying the Coalition will not get distracted by the “side issues” that are discussions about the advancement of women in the Coalition, and Clive Palmer for frequently calling female journalists “my dear” and attacking Tony Abbott’s chief of staff, Peta Credlin. Libra will also get the booing treatment, for advertising its new feminine products as absorbing “way more than you ever did in maths class”.
Check out the shortlist and check back with Women’s Agenda for all the winners. And feel free to give a “virtual boo” below with your pick of the most sexist comment this year:
Political Silver Ernie:
Eddie Obeid
Mark Latham
Clive Palmer MP (thrice)
Senator Joe Bullock
Peter Dutton MP
Tony Burke
Tony Abbott (thrice)
Barnaby Joyce MP
Andrew Laming MP
John Williams (NSW MP)
George Christensen
Alex Douglas (Qld PUP leader)
Melbourne University Liberal Club
Chris Spence (NSW MP)
Bernie Finn (Vic MP)
Media Silver Ernie
Tim Blair
Andrew Bolt
Piers Akerman (7 times)
Sydney Confidential
3AW 693
Warren Brown
Judicial Silver Ernie
Ian Pike SC
A/Justice John Nield
Philip Strickland SC
Celebrity/Clerical (The Fred)
Rev Fred Nile MLC (thrice)
The Catholic Weekly
Cardinal George Pell
Kyle Sandilands
Ass/Pro Gary Misan
The Elaine
Miranda Devine (6 times)
Sarah Henderson MP
Rita Panahi
Helen Grant (Vic Min for Women)
Industrial Silver Ernie
Good Time Burgers
Chevron
Zellini’s Café
Piccoli Photography
John Rippon (AWH)
Sport (The Warney)
Penrith Panthers
South Coast Winter Swimming Ass
Blake Ferguson
Tracks Magazine
Australian Sports Party
Swimming Australia management
Good Ernie
Mark Lennon (Unions NSW)
Adam Goodes (twice)
Snickers
CFMEU job delegates
Warren Entsch MP
Clive Palmer