‘Absurd sledge’: Howard hits back at teal independent’s woke whack

Former Prime Minister John Howard has hit back at claims by teal independent Zoe Daniel he used ‘gendered language’, defending the term ‘anti-Liberal groupies’.

Teal independent candidate Zoe Daniel has accused John Howard of the “inappropriate” use of “gendered language” – in a politically correct whack at Australia’s second longest-serving prime minister.

But Mr Howard has defended his use of the term “anti-Liberal groupies” to describe the so-called teal independents, as he labelled Ms Daniel’s comment an “absurd sledge, which betrays desperation”.

Speaking on the Nine Network on Saturday morning, Ms Daniel – who is vying for the blue-ribbon Victorian seat of Goldstein – appeared to take issue with Mr Howard’s earlier comments.

Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard hit back saying it was an ‘absurd sledge’. Photo: Sarah Marshall

She suggested she wanted to offer an alternative for voters who want politics done differently.

“I would say or suggest gently that gendered language like ‘anti-liberal groupies’ is inappropriate in the democratic process,” Ms Daniel said.

Mr Howard made the comments last month, where he argued the motivation of teal independents was to “hurt” the Liberal party – and not to represent the middle ground of the electorate.

“These men and women are all posing as independents. They’re not independents, they’re anti-Liberal groupies,” the former Liberal prime minister said at the time.

Mr Howard on Saturday insisted the term was not gendered, saying it “applies to any group who focus on particular activities of others”.

Independent candidate for Goldstein Zoe Daniel. Photo: Brendan Beckett

“It apparently gained currency in relation to followings accumulated by bands or pop groups,” he said.

“Self-evidently those followings were not limited to women.

“I used the term because the “independents” are only running against sitting Liberals.”

Ms Daniel – a former ABC journalist – is running against the Liberal Party’s Tim Wilson, who reclaimed Goldstein at the 2019 election with a 7.8 per cent margin.

YouGov research, commissioned by News Corp, revealed this week that Ms Daniel was leading Mr Wilson 52-48 per cent on a two party-preferred basis – putting her on track to win the seat.

If she was to win the seat, Ms Daniel would become the first Member for Goldstein who did not herald from the Liberal Party.

The same YouGov research also showed Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is behind in his race in Kooyong, with independent challenger Monique Ryan leading 53-47 per cent on a two party preferred basis.

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Originally published as ‘Absurd sledge’: Howard hits back at teal independent’s woke whack