Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The tower destroyed by the Israeli occupation in Gaza includes media offices, including Al Mayadeen's bureau.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Four fetuses and three premature babies died at Nasser Medical Complex due to malnutrition
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One person was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car in the town of Burj Qalawieh, south Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The first ship of the Maghreb fleet delivering aid to break the siege on Gaza departs from the port of Gammarth in Tunisia.
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out major bombings in the Gaza Strip, the most violent since October 7
Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree: The missile force carried out a major operation using the Palestine 2 ballistic hypersonic missile, hitting several targets in occupied Yafa.

Sexual abuse victims condemn Australia PM's 'shocking' response to claims

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 9 Feb 2022 14:14
3 Min Read

Two prominent advocates for sexual abuse survivors slam Australia's PM, accusing him of using "weasel words" to tame rampant sexual abuse.

  • x
  • Sexual abuse victims condemn Australia PM's 'shocking' response to claims
    Sexual abuse victims condemn Australia PM's 'shocking' response to claims.

Brittany Higgins, a former government aide whose claim that she was raped in parliament caused national outrage, said "very little has changed" since she went public a year ago.

Higgins was regretful and caustic about the conduct of a conservative administration she had served in a nationally viewed address.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison's answer to her charges, which included references to his own daughters and wife, was "startling and at times, regrettably, a touch disrespectful," according to Higgins.

"I didn't want his sympathy as a father. I wanted him to use his power as prime minister," she said. "But his words wouldn't matter if his actions had measured up."

Higgins claimed that the national dialogue on reducing abuse, harassment, and assault had stalled at "changing off rude, tone-deaf utterances for a complicated combination of soothing weasel-words."

He was joined in her speech by Grace Tame, the 2021 "Australian of the Year," who also aimed at Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's leadership over the past year. "It rots from the top," Tame said.

She added, "Unless our leaders take full responsibility for their own failings, abuse culture will continue to thrive inside parliament, setting a corrupt standard for the rest of the nation."

In Australia, the predicament of these women sparked national debate and introspection, as well as various government investigations.

Related News

French court to rule on surgeon who assaulted over 300 patients

Sexual abuse of Gaza detainees in Israeli prisons going rampant

One of them, the 450-page Jenkins Review, discovered that one-third of those working in Parliament and other federal government offices have been sexually harassed while there.

Read more: 1 in 3 Are Sexually Harassed in Australia's Parliament

Political pressure 

During her address, Tame added to the strain of the administration by claiming she was asked not to openly criticize the Prime Minister.

At a recent award presentation, she received a "threatened phone call from a senior member of a government-funded organization asking for my word that I wouldn't say anything incriminating about the prime minister."

Tame said the caller told her the Prime Minister "would have a fear... with an election coming soon." Australia's next federal election must be held by mid-May.

Due to prior engagements, Morrison was unable to attend Higgins and Tame's address, while numerous members of his government were present.

Morrison was asked about the progress his administration has made on the subject of women's safety in Parliament later Wednesday. Among other things, he mentioned a planned 10-year strategy for women's safety.

Higgins said the plan's "aims are so lofty and vague that it's impossible to disagree with and equally difficult to examine."

Tame has advocated for increased financing for consent education in schools. She stated that the government "plans to spend 11 cents per kid each year on preventative education" between 2020 and 2022. Both women ruled out any plans to run for political office.

  • Sexual abuse
  • Australia
  • Prime Minister
  • Scott Morrison

Most Read

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

American far-right activist Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Australia warned of deadly climate risks in landmark report
Environment

Millions at risk from rising seas, extreme heat in Australia: Report

DPRK leader Kim Jong Un inspects a new weapons factory in undisclosed location, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, August 31, 2025 (AP)
Politics

DPRK defies US, says nuclear state status 'permanently enshrined'

Soldier F faces trial over bloody Sunday killings after 53 years
Miscellaneous

British Soldier F faces trial over Bloody Sunday killings after 53 yrs

Pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrate at the University of Sydney to protest the Israel Hamas war, Wednesday, April 24, 2024 (AP)
Politics

Protest outside ABC decries media silence on Gaza journalist killings

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS