Federal NT pollies call for change after ScoMo presser

A TERRITORY member of parliament has accused Prime Minister Scott Morrison of crying “crocodile tears” at today’s press conference

A TERRITORY member of parliament has accused Prime Minister Scott Morrison of crying “crocodile tears” at today’s press conference.

Labor Member for Solomon Luke Gosling called on Mr Morrison to do his job and lead.

“It’s taken the Prime Minister a month to address the women of Australia, and what we saw when he finally fronted up was underwhelming – some crocodile tears about the women in his family, but no real commitments of how and what he’s going to change,” Mr Gosling said.

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“And he went from tears to smears in no time, when he aired allegations of a woman in a media organisation who’d made a confidential complaint.”

Mr Gosling’s comments were backed by Labor Senator Malarndirri McCarthy.

“It was frankly shocking and upsetting, but I suppose unsurprising, to see the Prime Minister use the details of a sexual assault complaint within a media company to defend his own failings as a leader,” Ms McCarthy said.

“This is a Government in crisis. And the Australian public expects better.”

Labor member for Lingiari Warren Snowdon said change needed to be immediate and Mr Morrison had failed to act.

“It’s totally unacceptable and we need those changes to happen immediately there’s clearly a problem with men in this place and across the country who don’t have respect for women,” he said.

Country Liberals Senator Sam McMahon said she supported Mr Morrison’s “strong comments” and agreed there needed to be change.

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“There is a ground swell of support across the country from women and men for improvements in the way women are treated both within this place and the community more generally,” Ms McMahon said.

“I am optimistic that this ground swell of support, with the resolve of the Prime Minister and my Parliamentary colleagues, will lead to a shift in how men view and treat women. It has to.”

Follow @JudithAisthorpe