Downer On Crotch Watch After Woman Mp Objects
Sydney Morning Herald
Saturday August 11, 2001
A woman Labor MP who complained about obscene hand movements by the Foreign Minister, Mr Downer, was ``flattering herself" if she thought they were sexual gestures directed at her, the minister said yesterday.
The MP, Mrs Julia Irwin, complained to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Neil Andrew, on Thursday that Mr Downer ``was blowing kisses and using offensive hand movements to me across the chamber" during Question Time.
Mrs Irwin did not specify what the gestures were, but it is understood they involved Mr Downer's hands being in proximity to his lap. Yesterday, Mrs Irwin, the member for Fowler in NSW, said she was used to the cut and thrust of debates, but Mr Downer's actions were ``something no woman would stand for".
Mrs Irwin first complained, privately, to the Speaker about Mr Downer's behaviour on November 30 last year.
She had been ejected from the chamber the previous day, after reacting to Mr Downer's taunts.
``I said `Go and powder your nose, Alex, you horrible little man', or something like that, and I was asked to withdraw. But he made the gestures again, and I got chucked out."
Mrs Irwin said she went to see the Speaker the next day, ``and he was wonderful he said two government members had spoken to him about it, too."
``But he said it was very hard to see what Downer was doing. He bends down, as if to get papers from under his seat."
After her complaint on Thursday, the Speaker appeared to be at something of a loss to know what to do, saying gestures were not covered by standing orders.
Mrs Irwin said Mr Andrew should view Mr Downer's actions on video.
Mr Downer now stands warned gallery photographers will be on crotch watch when parliament resumes.
© 2001 Sydney Morning Herald