Grace Tame blasts Scott Morrison’s Assistant Minister for Women Amanda Stoker

A Senator has hit back at Australian of the Year Grace Tame, who slammed the Prime Minister for giving her a promotion.

Liberal Senator Amanda Stoker has responded to criticism from Australian of the Year Grace Tame — who accused her of endorsing a “fake rape” crisis tour and undermining survivors of sexual assault.

The Queensland senator, who is regarded as a rising star among conservatives, was appointed to a new role as Assistant Women’s Minister in the frontbench reshuffle.

But it is Senator Stoker’s campaign against “deeply flawed” disciplinary procedures at university for men accused of sexual harassment and rape that Ms Tame said was so concerning she should not be allowed anywhere near the portfolio.

Ms Stoker responded in a statement saying Ms Tame’s comments were “passionate but not informed”.

Ms Tame said Senator Stoker had “endorsed” a “fake rape crisis” tour.

“The new Assistant Minister for Women is someone who previously endorsed a ‘fake rape crisis’ tour, aimed at falsifying instances of sexual abuse on school and university campuses across Australia,’’ Ms Tame said, during a discussion with Kerry O’Brien at a Griffith University event.

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“It goes without saying that this came at an immeasurable cost to already traumatised student survivors.”

Ms Tame also hit out at Senator Stoker’s association with men’s rights campaigner Bettina Arndt, who she accused of providing a platform for a paedophile teacher who groomed her as a child, a man who described having sex with a 15-year old-as “awesome.”

“A woman who laughed with the paedophile while they discussed and defended crimes against children,’’ Ms Tame said of Ms Arndt.

“The new Assistant Minister also supported last year’s Australia Day Honour of a woman (Arndt) who gave a platform to the convicted paedophile who abused me.”

In response to Ms Tame’s comments, Senator Stoker said in a statement: “I’ve spent my career as a prosecutor and barrister working for justice for women and children who are victims of sexual crimes and unconscionable exploitation.

“As a barrister, I provided countless hours of pro bono support to women dealing with sexual harassment.”

Senator Stoker said she would “endeavour to make contact” with Ms Tame in an effort to resolve their differences.

“Ms Tame’s comments are passionate but not informed and they do not correspond with my longer history of work in this area, of which Ms Tame must be unaware,” she said.

“I hope that she and I can work together to advance our many shared goals.”

In the video interview Ms Tame refers to, commentator Ms Arndt labelled schoolgirls’ behaviour as “sexually provocative” and stated that school girls “exploit their seductive powers to ruin the lives of men”.

“The man is not a pederast. This is not a man with a history of sexually preying on children,’’ Ms Arndt said.

The man had previously said on Facebook that sex with teenagers was “awesome.”

“Zip up your testicles in the feminist handbag, you sorry little prick. Judging from the emails and tweets I have received, the majority of men in Australia envy me. I was 59. She was 15 going on 25 …. It was awesome,’’ he said.

Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews appears via video link during a virtual swearing-in ceremony with PM Scott Morrison and Governor-General David Hurley Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Ms Arndt has also argued that universities were increasingly becoming unsafe places for young men — rather than women — because they risked false accusations, a campaign Senator Stoker has supported.

Ms Stoker has argued that university disciplinary procedures do not afford men access to legal representation and the rule of law and can ruin men’s lives.

“In light of these facts, either the Prime Minister is ignorant of the cultural issues at hand, or he understands them completely, and is making calculated moves to perpetuate them,’’ Ms Tame said.

“If the latter is true, then what we are seeing is further abuse of power, masterfully disguised as progress, the very same psychological manipulation at the heart of these recently exposed evils.”

Ms Tame went on to argue in a post on Instagram that “men are not the enemy.”

Australian of the Year Grace Tame is speaking to Kerry O'Brien at a Griffith University event about sexual assault and power relations.
https://t.co/v1XFn7Os72

— SBS News (@SBSNews) March 30, 2021

“The enemy is corruption. As such, women are not alone in the solution. Am I confident things are going to change immediately? No. Am I still hopeful? Yes, unquestioningly because survivors such as myself now have a platform.”

Critics have also claimed Senator Stoker is unsuitable because of her pro-life views on abortion and transgender women.

Ms Stoker has previously championed a petition titled “stand up to the transgender agenda”.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Senator Stoker said she was committed to representing women from “all backgrounds and walks of life”.

“Senator Stoker is particularly looking forward to contributing to the government’s response to issues involving women’s equality, women’s safety, women’s economic security and women’s health and wellbeing,” the spokesperson said.

“The government is committed to responding to these issues for the benefit of Australian women from all backgrounds and walks of life.”

Senator Stoker has previously apologised for accusing the Queensland Premier of having “her knee on the throat” of the economy.