David Leyonhjelm defends his Sarah Hanson-Young remarks in ABC radio clash
DAVID Leyonhjelm has fired up in the wake of the ‘slut shaming’ storm with Sarah Hanson-Young in an expletive-ridden interview, claiming he has every right as a ‘normal Australian’ to verbally abuse people he disagrees with.
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DAVID Leyonhjelm has defended his right as a “normal Australian” to verbally abuse people he disagrees with in an expletive-ridden interview on ABC radio, saying it is “ridiculous” he should be held to a higher standard as an elected official.
The Liberal Democrats Senator also argued he had did not have a problem with women because he had been married for 34 years as he defended his remarks about Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.
Senator Hanson-Young is suing him for alleged defamation over remarks he made on Sky News and 3AW radio on Sunday, which she claims implied she was sexually promiscuous.
In a heated clash with ABC Radio National host Hamish Macdonald this morning, Senator Leyonhjelm was asked about other remarks he had made to female journalists and political commentators, including calling one a “bigoted bitch” and telling another to “shut the f*** up”.
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“What’s your problem with women?” Macdonald asked.
“I think you’re mischaracterising it as sexist abuse when it’s just abuse,” Senator Leyonhjelm responded.
“I am an Australian. I will tell people they’re bastards or bitches or to f-off, irrespective of their gender.
“If I think they should shut up, I’ll tell them to shut up.”
Senator Leyonhjelm said it was “normal Australian behaviour”.
“I don’t discriminate between men and women. I will tell them both equally if I think they’re wrong I will call them out, I will tell them to shut up,” he said.
“Whatever abuse I level at people is a fraction of what I receive back again.”
The Senator also defended calling Malcolm Turnbull a “pussy” yesterday after the Prime Minister called on him to apologise to Senator Hanson-Young.
He said Mr Turnbull should have called out the Greens Senator’s misandry — remarks indicating a hatred of men.
“Misandry is equally as bad as misogyny. The Prime Minister is on record as having called out misogyny. Fine. I’m happy to call it out myself. But he should also call out misandry. It’s equally as bad. It’s also sexism. And for not doing so, he’s a doormat basically,” Senator Leyonhjelm said.
Senator Leyonhjelm accused Macdonald of calling him a liar, “pushing the friendship” and being part of Senator Hanson-Young’s fan club during their fiery 13 minute interview.
The pair had clashed over the Senator’s claim that Senator Hanson-Young, in an interview with Channel 7’s Sunrise program last month, had said “all men” were pigs and morons in the wake of Eurydice Dixon’s rape and murder in Melbourne.
Macdonald rejected the claim and played the audio where she can be heard saying: “It is not women’s fault that men behave like morons and like pigs. It is time that these people were held to account and we call out this type of behaviour.”
The ABC host also rejected Senator Leyonhjelm’s claim that Ms Hanson-Young said “all men are rapists” during a Parliamentary debate last month.
Senator Leyonhjelm’s response — telling her to “stop shagging men” and to “f*** off” when she confronted him — sparked the public dispute between the two senators which has now escalated into legal action.
Senator Leyonhjelm said on Sunday night that he could not remember her exact words but insisted it was along the lines of “all men are rapists”.
“To repeat, she does not say that, she has not said that, you have no evidence of that,” Macdonald said this morning.
Leyonhjelm replied: “I was there and you weren’t and you can probably stop calling me a liar while you’re still ahead.”
Macdonald said: “I haven’t called you a liar, I’m just pointing out some facts.”
Senator Leyonhjelm also denied he was “slut-shaming” Senator Hanson-Young with his comments at the weekend but acknowledged he did not understand the term.
“I didn’t shame her,” he said.
But the Senator defended the language he used during the debate in Parliament, saying he told her to “stop shagging men” because “she has double standards” if she claimed “all men” were rapists.
He also accused Senator Hanson-Young of being the “worst offender” in Parliament for using unparliamentary language.
“In the chamber, barely a week goes by where she is not told to withdraw and has to withdraw something,” he said.
“In four years in the Senate, I don’t think I’ve had to withdraw anything.
“She is probably the worst offender in Parliament for using obnoxious language.”
The Senator was asked if he was “enjoying the attention” that had come from his public dispute with Senator Hanson-Young.
He responded: “Ah well, it’s part of the job.”
The Senator also added he had not sought out the attention but had only responded when Senator Hanson-Young had a “swing” at him in the Senate.
“If I decided to let that go, I’d be the pussy wouldn’t I,” he said.
Macdonald also asked if he had a “problem with women with power and opinions”.
“No, that’s a very silly question to ask,” Leyonhjelm responded. “I have a problem with misandry and people who don’t accept the fact that sexism includes misandry as well as misogyny. Bias against men, which Sarah Hanson-Young has, is the other side of the coin to misogyny.”