In a pitch perfect display, Scott Morrison interrupted Anne Ruston in a recent press conference while discussing sexism in politics.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has come under fire after interrupting Minister for Families and Social Services, Anne Ruston, whilst she was being questioned during a recent media briefing about her experience as a woman in politics.
Morrison and Ruston appeared in Canberra on Tuesday to announce changes to JobSeeker payment; however, the press conference was quickly overrun with questions pertaining to the recent Liberal Party scandal exposed by ABC’s Four Corners.
On Monday night a Four Corners exposé shed light on a culture of sexism and inappropriate affairs within the Liberal Party, in particular in regards to two party members: Federal Attorney-General Christian Porter and Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge.
Whilst appearing on Tuesday, Morrison was questioned by reporters about the scandal, before reporters turned to Ruston for insight about her own experiences.
In a video captured by 7News, a reporter can be heard asking, “Ms Ruston, can I ask you, as a woman in the government, your reflections on the culture inside – has it got better, worse or no change since the bonk ban-era?”
Ruston starts to reply before Morrison interrupts her.
“How this ban is referred to, I think is quite dismissive of the serious of the issue, Phil. And I would ask media to stop referring to it in that way,” Morrison describes, before going onto further explain why he doesn’t approve of the label ‘bonk ban’ – a term used to refer to a prohibition of sexual relationships between ministers and their staff, which was instated in 2018.
Eventually, Morrison defers back to Ruston, who awkwardly picks up where she left off.
No one has shown me more respect than the man who just interrupted me to answer a question addressed to me. https://t.co/dDQWdaqJWV
— Daniel (@Sober_Dan_51) November 10, 2020
The video picked up so much traction that #Mansplaining even began trending on social media, and unsurprisingly, people had a lot to say about the incident.
Legend has is that if a woman tries to speak anywhere @ScottMorrisonMP will try to interrupt pic.twitter.com/rH24LCeT6g
— Dictator Dan (@Dansmemestash) November 11, 2020
“Let me answer that for you, lil lady” – @ScottMorrisonMP
— Michael Brennan (@Michael_B_tweet) November 10, 2020
"Yo minister, I'll let you finish, but our party has the best treatment of women OF ALL TIME!" https://t.co/2G1SNdzGan
— KrackerJak (@Krackerbastard) November 10, 2020
Morrison just proved the whole point of the 4corners program pic.twitter.com/8uE6tgQ412
— Kaz (@kaz_neena) November 10, 2020
This is a masterclass in Scott Morrison’s disrespect for women. #ScumbagMorrison interrupted Ruston answering a question directed specifically to her, as a woman in the LNP. Here is the misogyny in all its fulminant glory.
— alikat (@iallikat) November 10, 2020
Loving this worldwide humiliation for #ScottyTheBully
— Deborah Eden (@DeborahEden11) November 11, 2020
It sure hasn’t been a great month for the Liberals.
