Minister regrets misogynism

AFTER FEMALE MAYOR COMPLAINS TO PM: SWORE, WAGGED FINGER IN FACE OF THE OFFICIAL

Sydney

Asenior Australian politician apologised yesterday after a torrent of foul language he unleashed at a female mayor sparked accusations of misogyny.

Health Minister Greg Hunt, who has been spoken of as a possible future prime minister, let rip at Fay Miller, the mayor of the northern town of Katherine, at a meeting in December. As well as swearing, he was accused of intimidating her by wagging his finger in her face.

Hunt only apologised after Miller wrote to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull citing his “unwarranted, disrespectful and unacceptable behaviour”.

“I used strong language,” Hunt admitted. “I have apologised to the mayor of Katherine and today I want to repeat that apology publicly and sincerely, and absolutely.”

Asked in parliament if he had been involved in other similar incidents, Hunt said one other case had been raised with him regarding a “strong discussion” he had with a former health department secretary.

Hunt’s outburst against Miller came when she suggested more funding to deal with contamination arising from the use of fire-fighting foam in her region. He said she would need to take it up with Northern Territory senator Nigel Scullion. Miller said in her letter to Turnbull that at that point, she told Hunt: “Senator Scullion comes to Katherine but I don’t see him. Hunt relocated his chair, pointing at me and said ‘you need to f***ing get over it, you need to f***ing make Scullion your best friend’,” Miller wrote. “I didn’t move. I was absolutely totally gobsmacked.”

Miller told ABC radio Hunt’s next two sentences also contained the F-word. “And then he sat back a little in his chair and said, ‘I’ve heard you’re feisty’,” she said. “And I thought, ‘really?’ I hadn’t said a word at this stage, because I was in such a state of shock.”

Asked how she found Hunt’s attitude, Miller replied: “That was misogynist.” –