‘Plibersek’s ‘Voldemort’ Peter Dutton insult shows ugly side of politics’

A vile comment likening Peter Dutton to Lord Voldemort this week had many flashing back to the dramatic Oscars slap - and shows we took nothing from it.

OPINION

Earlier this week, Labor politician Tanya Plibersek said Peter Dutton, who looks like he will be the next leader of the Liberal party, looked “a bit like Voldemort”.

On Brisbane radio 4BC, Plibersek said: “I think there will be a lot of children who have watched a lot of Harry Potter films who will be very frightened of what they are seeing on TV at night, that’s for sure.”

It was a jab, an insult and a below the belt remark that frankly reminded me of the kind of commentary Julia Gillard had to endure from everyone from Alan Jones to Germaine Greer when she was Prime Minister. Remember when Greer said Gillard had a “fat a**e?” Sure, insult someone’s politics, but appearances should always be off the table. Why? Because how someone looks reveals zero about a person.

In reaction to Plibersek’s frankly mean comments, Dutton then revealed that he had auto-immune condition alopecia, that made him bald, which then, let’s face it, made Plibersek look like Chris Rock and Dutton a much less reactive Will Smith. Oscar slap flashbacks, anyone? Clearly, Plibersek didn’t get the memo that people’s looks aren’t to be used as a joke.

Peter Dutton has revealed he has alopecia. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Jada Pinkett Smith also has alopecia. Picture: Mike Coppola/Getty Images

Plibersek has since apologised for the Voldemort remark, and our Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has denounced her comments. He said: “I think that in politics, we need to treat each other with respect.” But the general vibe in the air, and particularly on Twitter, is that what Plibersek said was funny.

I’ll be honest, as a Labor supporter and someone that isn’t a fan of Dutton’s politics, it’s even tempting for me to laugh along, but the truth is making fun of the way someone looks is never OK. It’s cruel, unkind, and, let’s face it, completely irrelevant.

There’s so much that is worth discussing about Dutton; why should we let his looks eclipse the conversation? I’d rather hear Plibersek criticise his policies on refugees or the economy. Similarly, when Gillard was in charge of the country, I was frustrated that there was so much focus on what she wore rather than what she was doing, you know, as our actual prime minister. Or even if you want to look further abroad, I didn’t understand why Hillary Clinton’s pants suits were so noteworthy – all her male contemporises were also wearing suits and it wasn’t making headlines.

Ms Plibersek insulting Mr Dutton’s looks is cruel, unkind and completely irrelevant. Picture: Kym Smith

I think it is essential to recognise that these looks-based jabs are something female politicians have always endured, and it’s something female politicians are constantly rallying against. Sure, maybe it’s refreshing to see a man have to withstand the same kind of physical scrutiny, but ultimately that doesn’t make it right.

The reality is, it wasn’t OK when I read a tweet that called Penny Wong too masculine, it wasn’t OK when Julia Gillard’s body shape was considered worth criticising, and it wasn’t OK when Julie Bishop’s love of heels was seen as indicative of her inability to lead the country.

I’ve grown up in a country where the way female politicians look have been torn apart and mocked and ultimately used to undermine them, and I’ve hated every second of it.

The truth is that none of us can choose what we look like, but we can choose how we behave or what politics we push or what policies we support. If women in politics start slinging the same kind of insults back at men, it just gives men the power to keep commenting on women’s bodies and looks under the guise that everyone is doing it.

Michelle Obama famously said: “When they go low, we go high.” It’s important that women don’t resort to the same bullying tactics employed by men in politics.

Mary Madigan is a freelance writer

Originally published as ‘Plibersek’s ‘Voldemort’ Peter Dutton insult shows ugly side of politics’