MINISTER'S REMARKS

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:27): I want to talk about the hypocrisy and double standards of the Premier and the Labor government. At the outset, what I want to say personally is that in terms of robust political exchanges over the years I have given as good as I got, and I am quite happy in relation to that particular standing, but what I do hate is hypocrisy and double standards.

In recent months we have seen outrage from the government, the ministers in this chamber and sections of the media about a statement on the frequency that a female minister wore a particular outfit which was not intended for public release that was mistakenly sent out. On the other hand, we have in this chamber minister Gago regularly making references to male MPs in terms of both their outfits and their physical attributes. Yesterday when I alleged that the minister's favourite meal comprised chickpeas, brussels sprouts and lemons, she got angry and responded—and Hansard records it:

Well, my belly doesn't hang over the edge of my pants, Mr President; I can tell you that much.

Other members will know that the minister regularly refers to the male MPs in the chamber as being overweight. She regularly makes derogatory references to outfits that male MPs wear, in particular the ties that she does not agree with.

If a male MP in the House of Assembly was to make a reference to a female minister or a female MP by saying, 'Well, my belly doesn't hang over the edge of my skirt, Mr Speaker; I can tell you that much,' I ask members what the response would be from sections of the media and from the government in relation to that. There would be outrage that a male MP had raised those issues about a female in terms of her physical attributes or indeed the outfits that that particular female MP was wearing.

This hypocrisy of double standards is a view whispered in the corridors by members of both political parties, let me assure you. I can also assure you it is generally male MPs in both parties. It is something whispered in the corridors, but people are not prepared to come out in the open about it. This hypocrisy should not be allowed to continue any further.

If you are going to adopt this standard in relation to male MPs commenting, for example, on outfits worn by female members of parliament, then a female minister such as minister Gago should not be able to continue to make references, uncriticised, about the physical attributes of male MPs or their clothing and dress sense as well.

As I said, having been in parliament for a long time, I come from the school of giving as good as you get over the years. Very rarely, other than to make a political point, do I take an objection; however, the minister comes in regularly and, in any other environment, defames and besmirches people by claiming that we tell lies and innuendo, that we are 'sleazy cowards'—all of these are minister Gago's own words in Hansard—make 'snide allegations', 'completely unsubstantiated', 'never tables any support for the allegations', 'snivelling cowards', 'sleazy cowards', etc.

As I said, very rarely on my own behalf do I take exception to that because I come from the old school in terms of giving as good as I get. But, in this current politically correct environment, where so much is made of a statement which should not have been made, but was never intended to be put out for public release anyway and went out mistakenly, on the other hand there is never a comment from any section of the media, from the government, from the Premier, or from others about a female minister who regularly makes derogatory comment about male MPs in terms of their physical attributes.

I will end my comments on this basis, but I ask members to respond honestly to the following question: if a male MP had said exactly the same thing about a female MP as minister Gago said yesterday on the Hansard record, what would have been the response from the Premier, from government ministers, and from certain sections of the media? Mr Acting President, I am sure you would know what that response would have been.