Ex-councillor Stephen Mayne sorry over sexist list rating female government staffers

FORMER emergency services minister Jane Garrett says a sleazy list that rated female politicians and staffers including herself for their looks was ‘incredibly disrespectful’.

Stephen Mayne.

EX-COUNCILLOR Stephen Mayne has apologised for a sleazy list that crudely rates prominent female politicians including former emergency services minister Jane Garrett for their physical appearance and sexual attractiveness.

The Herald Sun can reveal the list can still be found online, having been republished since originally being published then taken down by Mr Mayne.

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One woman on the list was regarded as fitting with “the dominatrix fantasy, powerful, frightening and blonde.”

Others were described as “oozing sex and fun”, “very very tasty” and “dark, sensual and very attractive.”

Mr Mayne, who has been a fierce critic of former lord mayor Robert Doyle during the sexual harassment investigation, has himself been accused of sexist conduct over the “Bracks Babes” list he published in 2001 which rated female workers based on their physical attractiveness to men.

Former emergency services minister and state labor MP Jane Garrett was one of those targeted on the list.

Stephen Mayne. Picture: Jay Town

Former Victorian emergency services minister Jane Garrett. Picture: David Caird

“It was incredibly disrespectful. It distressed a lot of people at the time. It’s disturbing to know it was still floating around today,” she said.

Ms Garrett said there was a “collective anger” by women named on the list at the time of publication but it was not removed.

“It was obviously designed to objectify women, make fun of them and belittle their contribution,” she said.

“Women are still subjected to this sort of behaviour today. It’s a sign about why we need strong discrimination laws and bodies that implement them.”

The Herald Sun understands many more female Labor staff members were discussed in the list published by Crikey while Mr Mayne was editor.

He has today apologised, stating it was “far worse” than he had remembered.

Earlier he said the list was sent anonymously by a Labor staff member and claims it was taken down within hours of being published after he received a call from a female colleague.

Mr Mayne later claimed he did not know the identity of the author behind the sexist list.

“For the record, I’m sorry but do not know which Labor staffer at the time wrote the piece,’’ he tweeted.

He described as “lighthearted” and said rated women based on how “charming and nice” they were.

“It was positive and lighthearted. It wasn’t talking about them having nice legs,” he said.

“As far as I am concerned, it went up and came down. If it did appear later, I had nothing to do with it. I took it down within two to three hours after publishing it.”

Several high-profile politicians and government staffers are among those categorised based on their physical appearance.

The “famous” article was republished by Crikey in May 2002.

It states the Bracks administration was “stacked with hot babes” and “desirable women” who controlled the male-dominated government.

“It is of course an unfortunate truth that the movers and shakers in business, the media and the public service are predominantly male,” the list states.

“And what’s the best way to control powerful men? With smart, articulate, energetic and attractive women we’re suckers for them.”

The author concedes the list is “cheap, tacky, an assault on women’s rights” but was republished by Crikey.

Rebecca Nicholson was among several women named on the list which she claims remained online for well over a decade.

She said it made her and other victims “feel unsafe” in their workplace.

“Now that you’re all about respect for women at work, how about apologising to me and my former female colleagues for publishing an article that rated our attractiveness to men and made us feel unsafe in our workplaces?” she said.

“The humiliating article remained there for 15 years for anyone to find including prospective employers when they googled our names. He is no ally.”

Bronwyn Parker, a former education adviser who was also named, said the list made her feel “powerless”.

“I was absolutely repulsed. It was inappropriate and unprofessional,” she told the Herald Sun.

“His actions 15 years ago and his action today are a complete disconnect.

“It’s like he’s a different person or he is pretending when you see the stance he is putting forward now.

“He can’t take away what happened but he certainly can become more active in apologising for his actions.”

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