MP’s alleged shock ‘close your legs’ parliament jibe slammed as sham

A social media post alleging an Liberal National MP told Health Minister Shannon Fentiman to “close your legs” in parliament has been slammed by the MP and the Opposition as a sham. SEE THE VIDEO

A viral social media post alleging an Opposition MP told Health Minister Shannon Fentiman to “close your legs” has been slammed as a sham.

Opposition health spokeswoman Ros Bates has demanded Ms Fentiman and the government apologise and retract their statements after posting the video of her – which was shared by Premier Steven Miles – across social media.

It’s understood the LNP also made formal complaints to the Clerk of Parliament.

The Opposition had been pushing the government on patchy maternity services across regional Queensland which had forced mothers in those areas to travel to hospitals further away to give birth.

Shannon Fentiman posted on social media about the alleged Ros Bates’ “close your legs” comment.

Ros Bates during parliament Question Time. Picture: Liam Kidston.

Ms Fentiman, through Question Time, had confirmed sporadic closures of between a day and four days in recent months across a number of maternity wards in areas due to staff taking leave over the Christmas period or unexpected shortages.

“Over the Christmas period there are times when staff take leave, but we work with the patients. The hardworking staff do deserve a break at Christmas time and we work with local mothers to make sure they are supported,” she said.

While Ms Fentiman was giving her answer, MPs on the Opposition benches were heard saying “what do you tell them?” and “what do you tell the mothers”.

Ms Bates then loudly said “cross your legs”, in a phrase she later clarified was to suggest the government was seemingly telling mothers to hold their babies in while in labour.

The official transcription of parliament also recorded Ms Bates saying “cross your legs”.

But the clip posted to social media by government MPs including Ms Fentiman — but deleted as of Wednesday evening — depicted Ms Bates words as “close your legs”.

Some government MPs were also promoting an online petition calling for Ms Bates to be sacked, as the Gold Coast MP copped a barrage of abuse online.

Ms Bates slammed Ms Fentiman’s social media post as a “baseless misrepresentation” of her words.

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman posted to social media.

“Close your legs!” - this is what the LNP Shadow Minister for Health and Women Ros Bates yelled while I was on my feet talking about women’s health and maternity services in Parliament today. Picture: X

“The comment was clearly not about the Health Minister, it was about the alarming Queensland maternity crisis, which continues to worsen on her watch and is putting women and children at risk,” she said.

“Shannon Fentiman is aware I am a victim of domestic violence. She is also aware I am a mother. For her to mischaracterise my words for her own political gain and attempt to portray me as a misogynist is deeply offensive.”

Ms Bates said the LNP was yelling at the government across the parliamentary chamber to ask whether they were suggesting mothers delay having babies while they’re transferred to other hospitals.

“With Labor suggesting women could just bypass their local hospital to go to another hospital to give birth, I could not believe Labor was telling mothers to ‘cross your legs’ while in labour,” Ms Bates said.

“This is the comment I made.”

Ms Bates said she would write to Speaker Curtis Pitt, alleging Ms Fentiman had misled parliament.

“When Labor is backed into a corner, their true colours shine through,” she said. “As the Health Minister and Minister for Women, Shannon Fentiman should be ashamed of herself.