Women and men across the country are rightly outraged at the derogatory comments Nationals Murray Darling MP John Williams made about Robyn Parker.
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After reading the comments – that Ms Parker had “never had a real man” and he threatened to “tear her a new orifice” – it is clear Mr Williams is not only a sexist of the lowest order, but a misogynist.
Out of the public arena such vilifying words could be considered verbal assault.
At the time of the comments, Mr Williams was reportedly angry about a decision Ms Parker made when she was environment minister.
That’s his excuse for making such lurid comments about a Coalition colleague.
Premier Mike Baird says there’s no excuse for making such remarks and the Mercury agrees.
Ms Parker accepted Mr Williams’ apology in a phone call yesterday morning but said the comments were not OK and that they were a step backward for women in politics.
The Maitland MP told the Mercury such behaviour needs to be stopped.
Australian women have not fought long and hard for equal rights to be treated in this abhorrent manner.
It doesn’t matter whether the woman is a politician or a cleaner it is clearly unacceptable.
In the view of the Mercury, John Williams needs to stand back and ask himself whether he’s the right person to be involved in politics when at least half of his constituents are women.
We acknowledge that he has shown some courage and phoned Ms Parker to apologise but would question why it took him so long too when the remarks were made in April.
It would seem women’s rights still have a long way to go.
