Independent MP Helen Dalton says New South Wales Legislature is ‘toxic’ place for women
Independent MP Helen Dalton has introduced a motion declaring female MPs in the New South Wales Legislature work in a ‘toxic’ environment and condemning a male MP for saying they should be ‘monitored’. did.
Key Point:
- MP Helen Dalton objected to MLC Robert Borsak’s comments
- Fellow MPs spoke out Wednesday in support of Dalton’s motion
- She says there was a ‘deafening silence’ within Congress
Shooters, Fisher and Farmers MLC Robert Borsak I commented on Mr Dalton two weeks ago In the Senate, ahead of a vote on floodplain harvesting.
Ms Dalton, a member of the House of Representatives, entered the chamber to hear a debate about her own voters and criticized One Nation leader Mark Latham for “dividing communities”.
Ms. Dalton then got up and appeared to move towards Mr. Latham before being told to stop by others in the room.
Archer, fisherman and farmer MLC Mark Banasiak criticized Legislative Council Chairman Chris Russ for being “too soft” in trying to defuse the situation.
Borsak told ABC he did not want to comment on the situation.
On Wednesday afternoon, Dalton introduced a motion in the House of Representatives to classify Borsak’s comments as unsafe behavior in the workplace.
“[Domestic violence] It can happen to anyone … and this is endemic throughout our society,” said the Murray member.
“How is it that the men walking the halls of Parliament think nothing of suggesting that they should have been ‘clocked’ to keep women in line?
“And what is the effect? A deafening silence.”
Dalton argued that the comments would result in immediate dismissal at any other workplace, and Macquarie Street should not ignore or “throw away” inappropriate behavior.
“Will this Congress even dare to pretend it can set rules and standards for the rest of the state when in fact we are working in a toxic environment?
“If we don’t call this out, that is, if we don’t pull these misogynies out before they infect everyone around them, we will continue to be part of the problem.”
Several members from all sides of the government spoke out in support of Ms Dalton and supported her call for Mr Borsac to apologize.
Green Party MP Jenny Leung, who represents Newtown, said Mr Borsak’s comments clearly incited violence, and if he did it in front of the cameras, she said he would do what he did elsewhere. He said he was worried.
“So what do you think will be accepted by him?” she asked.
“Less than a third of the members of parliament are women and we have a lot of work to do to address this.”
Sydney independent MP Alex Greenwich said Mr Dalton was brave in condemning his “shameful” remarks, sending an inappropriate message to women who want to enter politics.
“The guys at this place need to do better,” he said.
In August, Prime Minister Dominique Perrotet vowed to end workplace harassment following the incident. Cultural Survey release at New South Wales Legislative Building.
A review by former Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick found that one in three respondents had experienced bullying or sexual harassment in the past five years, and many had put in place structural measures to prevent bullying. We found low confidence in protection.
Greenwich said that since the Broderick review, the “lumps” of ultra-right-wing men who have become ever more emboldened to bad behavior appear to be shrinking.
“It’s important that this chamber illuminates [Mr Borsak’s] I know that his character and his openness to promoting violence against women are of growing concern in rural and rural New South Wales.
Liberal MP Leslie Williams of Port Macquarie and Labor MP Kate Washington of Port Stephens also spoke out in support of Mr Dalton, and the motion passed unanimously.
In the Senate on Tuesday, Labor Party’s Greg Donnelly was accused of sexism after claiming women’s minister Bronnie Taylor was “howling” and “shouting” and should “lower the tone a bit”. .
Taylor insisted that Donnelly would never say such a thing to a man.
On Wednesday, Washington said Donnelly had apologized for the comments.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-10-12/helen-dalton-says-nsw-parliament-toxic-for-women/101529006 Independent MP Helen Dalton says New South Wales Legislature is ‘toxic’ place for women
