Politics

PC row: Politician slams speaker for calling her ‘un-ladylike’ in parliament

Aug 01, 2019

Tasmanian Speaker Sue Hickey and Deputy Leader for the opposition Michelle O'Byrne became embroiled in a heated discussion about the use of the word "ladylike". Source: Twitter/ Studio 10

While heated exchanges in parliament are not unusual there was an added amount of tension in Tasmania on Wednesday when the speaker and opposition leader locked horns over the use of the word “ladylike”.

It all began when Member for Bass Michelle O’Byrne abruptly interjected Premier Will Hodgman from across the chamber as he tried to answer a question. Her sudden shouting did not sit well with Liberal Speaker Sue Hickey, who shouted “order” before addressing Byrne directly.

“Ms O’Byrne, it’s very unladylike to be yelling in the Parliament,” she said to the politician.

The Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Tasmania immediately rose to her feet with a point of order as she questioned the use of the term and whether or not that was acceptable in parliament.

It got heated in Tasmanian Parliament after Deputy Opposition leader Michelle O'Byrne took issue with Speaker Sue Hickey calling her "unladylike".

Do you think the word is inappropriate? #Studio10 pic.twitter.com/lpsBfFAexs

— Studio 10 (@Studio10au) August 1, 2019

“Can I draw your attention to the inappropriateness of a member mentioning someone’s gender in any kind of warning in Parliament,” she said in a calmer manner.

“If you wish to refer to me my name is Michelle O’Byrne , or the member for Bass, or the deputy leader of the opposition.”

Hickey then spoke up asking the politician whether she was referencing the point to herself to which O’Byrne replied: “Yes madam speaker. The word ladylike madam speaker.”

Obviously annoyed with her response Hickey claimed it was a case of political correctness and O’Byrne’s actions were not tolerated.

“Oh for goodness sake, this is political correctness taken to the nth degree,” she said. “Your behaviour was inappropriate whether it was ladylike or otherwise. I will not be spoken to like that again, Ms O’Byrne.”

Later in the day O’Byrne reportedly hit back at Hickey’s comments in a further speech in parliament, claiming “language matters”.

She explained the reasoning behind her words to the speaker and said the use of other terms would be less discriminative, the ABC reports.

“We tell women that we need to act [in] particular ways, then we give licence to responses when they don’t act in that way,” she reportedly said.

“Even the word ‘lady’ pre-supposes a certain standard of behaviour that some women do not deserve to receive, it’s discriminatory in its very nature. We can change the language we use if we wish to have a safer and better society.”

The fiery exchange has since been debated on Studio 10 with Angela Bishop bringing a strong opinion on the matter.

“This just plays into that whole thing that’s gone on for years, that if a man’s making a point in a loud voice, they’re being forceful and authoritative but if a woman is raising her voice and getting passionate about something, she’s a harridan,” she exclaimed on the program on Thursday morning. “To have it reinforced is pretty off.”

Fellow host Joe Hildebrand didn’t agree, claiming: “It was just a word she used for inappropriate behaviour… that’s what a speaker does. She keeps order.”

Meanwhile, others have taken to social media to voice their opinions with some agreeing with Bishop that it wasn’t an acceptable way to address the politician and others claiming “ladylike” was a perfectly okay term to use in that situation.

“Hickey, insultingly referred to O’Byrne’s ‘temperament’ and ‘attitude’, and used derogatory gendered language,” one person wrote on Facebook. “Hickey was not only impolite, she was rude and aggressive.”

Another chimed in: “She was being condescending and clearly trying to make her feel bad. Does she say to the male politicians who shout (as I’m sure they do) that they are behaving in an ungentlemanly manner?”

While a third disagreed with the others adding: “Well done Sue Hickey. This bad behaviour needs to stop. If this behaviour was in any other workplace it would be called bullying.”