LNP candidate under fire over sexist comments on travel blog

DAVID Kingston, the Liberal candidate for Lilley, is under fire over sexist remarks he made about women on his family travel blog.

The LNP candidate for Lilley has some pretty awful things to say about women.

IT’S 2016, but apparently some of our political candidates still haven’t gotten the memo.

David Kingston, the Liberal candidate for the Queensland electorate of Lilley, is under fire over sexist remarks he logged in an online travel diary he kept while touring Australia.

The Courier Mail has uncovered musings that would be enough to make Tony Abbott blush, including paragraphs like: “Ever since I was little I can remember my Mum and Dad used to put up HIS and HERS towels in the bathroom … from that I realised there were things designed for men and others designed for women.

“And I reasoned that the pattern would extend to some other things in life too (such as chores).”

In the blog, he admitted that even his wife, Donna, thought he was a chauvinist, saying: “Donna likes to call me chauvinistic from time to time but I see it differently.”

He described his wife as “very well-behaved”, saying she “got busy with some women’s work — washing clothes”.

He even wrote: “I got a bit of a shock when it was a woman who stepped out of the truck.” With — without a man’s permission? God forbid.

On social media, some have criticised Kingston for his remarks.

But a few people have quickly jumped to his defence. Ashlee Martin, who says David is her stepfather, wrote that she “grew up in a loving, respectful, caring, giving household”. She said he has a “tongue-in-cheek sense of humour” and tirelessly did housework every weekend.

“This travel blog was for us, as a family, to read through their adventures on the road. We know that was all said in a joking manner because we know the people involved in the stories!” she said.

Another commenter says that anyone who knows Kingston’s wife knows she doesn’t iron, adding that one of their nieces is a diesel mechanic.

Malcolm Turnbull has not specifically addressed the blog, but when The Courier Mail approached his office for comment, they referred to his proclamation on Monday afternoon that he was a feminist.

“I would describe myself as a feminist. As I often say, women hold up half the sky. Respect for women, absolutely ingrained in me at a very early age by my father in particular and also my mum,’’ he said.

“But it is absolutely critical and I quote if I may, my wife Lucy, it’s a point she makes all the time: One of the most important things we can do as parents is ensure that our sons grow up to respect the women in their lives. In other words, respect their mothers and their sisters.”