‘No place for sexism, racism in Australia’
16 Aug 2013 3:18 AM IST
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Wednesday said there was 'no place' for sexism, racism or homophobia in Australia as election rival Tony Abbott laughed off his touting of a candidate's sex appeal.
Abbott came under fire after praising the female conservative colleague while campaigning in western Sydney on Tuesday, renewing debate over misogyny in Australia which raged during former leader Julia Gillard's time in office.
Rudd, who ousted Gillard as Labor leader in June, condemned the remarks.
‘If any male employer stood up in a workplace anywhere in Australia and pointing to a female staff member, said, 'This person is a good staff member because they've got sex appeal', I think people would scratch their heads at least and I think the employer would be finding themselves in serious strife,’ he told reporters.
‘My policy's pretty simple, that in modern Australia, neither sexism nor racism nor homophobia has any place whatsoever. I believe people look to our national leaders to set that sort of example.’
Ex-trainee priest Abbott defended his blunder - the latest in a series of gaffes he has made about women - describing it Wednesday as a ‘dad moment, a daggy moment maybe’. Daggy is an Australian term for uncool, or not trendy.
He was under fire again almost immediately over remarks made in a radio interview about gay marriage. ‘I’m not someone who wants to see radical change based on the fashion of the moment,’ Abbott said.
Abbott came under fire after praising the female conservative colleague while campaigning in western Sydney on Tuesday, renewing debate over misogyny in Australia which raged during former leader Julia Gillard's time in office.
Rudd, who ousted Gillard as Labor leader in June, condemned the remarks.
‘If any male employer stood up in a workplace anywhere in Australia and pointing to a female staff member, said, 'This person is a good staff member because they've got sex appeal', I think people would scratch their heads at least and I think the employer would be finding themselves in serious strife,’ he told reporters.
‘My policy's pretty simple, that in modern Australia, neither sexism nor racism nor homophobia has any place whatsoever. I believe people look to our national leaders to set that sort of example.’
Ex-trainee priest Abbott defended his blunder - the latest in a series of gaffes he has made about women - describing it Wednesday as a ‘dad moment, a daggy moment maybe’. Daggy is an Australian term for uncool, or not trendy.
He was under fire again almost immediately over remarks made in a radio interview about gay marriage. ‘I’m not someone who wants to see radical change based on the fashion of the moment,’ Abbott said.
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