How David Leyonhjelm's sexist slurs have united the women of Australian politics

Things we know about Liberal Democratic Party senator David Leyonhjelm:

He made headlines when he told Sarah Hanson-Young to “stop shagging men", although he insists that remark was prompted by the Greens senator alluding to the idea that 'all men are rapists’ – a remark she has repeatedly denied making.

Leyonhjelm also made headlines for calling Studio 10 presenter Angela Bishop a ‘bitch’ and, when called out for his nastiness, he claimed he was just using "normal", robust word most Australians use. 

There is no way he could get away with such behaviour outside of politics. 

If Leyonhjelm used this language against co-workers in the corporate world he’d be hauled off to HR and would, most likely, be reprimanded, demoted or lose his job. Companies have stringent policies in place to stop this kind of bullying and there are severe repercussions for the perpetrator.

But I believe the strongest words of all came from Peta Credlin, who has suffered horrendous slurs, rumours and name-calling over the years – at the hands of both women and men. Yet few, if anybody, stood up for her.

And it goes without saying that Peta is accused of standing by when Julia Gillard was suffering dreadful abuse. But now there’s evidence of a fascinating shift. 
Peta Credlin addressed the abuse suffered by Hanson-Young in a five-minute heartfelt editorial on Sky News.

"I barely know Sarah Hanson-Young but when she called out years of sexual innuendo aimed squarely at her character, I want to make it clear, I back her 100 per cent," Credlin said.

"It is beyond the pale that this is how an elected woman is challenged, not on her policies not on her ideas but via slurs regarding her virtue and, by Leyonhjelm’s, charge her lack of virtue. It’s the whole Madonna or whore binary of women, isn’t it?"

So what can we surmise about this powerful show of solidarity between women? That it is no longer okay to stay silent when women in politics are being abused – no matter what side of politics the women are on.

LISTEN: The Life Bites podcast on why it's so crucial for women to support one another. (Post continues.)

Following Peta Credlin’s editorial, Sarah Hanson-Young acknowledged her defence of her, thanking her on social media and saying she regrets not speaking up for Credlin in the past. It is great to see women in politics supporting each other.

What else does this sorry episode show? It shows that it is not okay to be rude, arrogant and disrespectful. It shows that most of us want fewer sexist male politicians.

It also shows that we want and need more strong women in parliament who support each other and forge a new path for Australian politics.