Agriculture Minister Mark Furner apologises to LNP’s Ros Bates for ‘misogynistic’ slur

A Queensland government minister has “unreservedly” apologised for hurling an insult labelled deeply offensive and misogynistic at a female Opposition MP.

A Queensland government minister has “unreservedly” apologised for hurling an insult labelled deeply offensive and misogynistic at a female Opposition MP during parliamentary debate.

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Mark Furner said he had responded to an interjection from an Opposition MP earlier in the day and withdrew his remarks and “apologised unreservedly”.

But the Opposition will be seeking a further reprimand from the Premier’s office, with Opposition health spokeswoman Ros Bates — the target of the slur — labelling the insult “deeply offensive” and “misogynistic”.

Mark Furner

Ros Bates

Mr Furner would be spoken to by the Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk’s office confirmed.

It is alleged Mr Furner, during parliamentary debate, directed the words “what a dopey stupid woman you are” to Ms Bates.

“That remark is offensive to all women in this Parliament,” Ms Bates said.

“The Premier must take action to set a standard that this behaviour will not be tolerated.”

A spokesman for Ms Palaszczuk said she was disappointed with what the minister had said and she would be speaking to him.

Opposition frontbencher and former leader Deb Frecklington, invoking former prime minister Julia Gillard’s historic misogyny speech, lashed Mr Furner — who was a federal senator during Ms Gillard’s tenure — for his remarks.

“Ten years ago Julia Gillard stood in the Federal Parliament and spoke about the misogynistic behaviour, well look at the misogynistic behaviour, and it was the Minister, he sat in the federal Labor Party with Julia Gillard at the time,” Ms Frecklington said.

“Well, it’s obvious he hasn’t learned anything.”

She said there was no place for that “vile language”, aimed at a woman, inside or outside Parliament.

* an earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Mr Furner was a White Ribbon Australia ambassador.