Liberal senator Amanda Stoker on Grace Tame, Twitter trolls

A controversial appointment in Scott Morrison’s cabinet reshuffle has again rejected criticism from Australian of the Year Grace Tame.

Liberal senator Amanda Stoker has again hit back at Australian of the Year Grace Tame, who blasted her new ministerial appointment.

Senator Stoker was last week made Assistant Minister for Women in the Morrison government following a reshuffle aimed at tackling cultural problems within federal parliament.

The promotion prompted sexual abuse advocate Grace Tame to criticise Senator Stoker, who Ms Tame claimed “previously endorsed a ‘fake rape crisis’ tour’ that falsified accounts of abuse on school and university campuses.

“It’s utter nonsense,” Senator Stoker told 2GB on Tuesday.

Grace Tame was in January named Australian of the Year. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Senator Stoker defended her actions, saying she has tried to explain the “deep harm” that comes from the practice of deplatforming since her election in 2018.

She said different points of view should be spoken and heard, particularly in universities, even if they had the potential to offend people.

“The person who was being deplatformed had some different views about sexual assault and things like that,” Senator Stoker said.

“She should be heard; that doesn’t necessarily make her right.”

The mother of three girls said she was concerned that left-wing trolls on Twitter might “scare” good women away from serving as politicians.

“A lot of people are not up for this,” Senator Stoker said.

She said women should work together, instead of taking it upon themselves to tear down others.

“They say they want more women participating in public life,” Senator Stoker said.

“But, yet, when women who don’t necessarily think the same way as them … they go on the attack and can be particularly nasty about it.”

Senator Amanda Stoker speaking in the Senate Chamber. Image: David Foote

Australian of the Year Grace Tame has been heralded as a game-changing voice in the national conversation about sexual abuse.

In several speeches, she has urged survivors to speak up, saying Australia is on the precipice of a revolution.

“Hear me now, using my voice, amongst a growing chorus of voices that will not be silenced,” she said in her acceptance speech.

Australian television star Magda Szubanski came out in support of Ms Tame’s remarks about Senator’s appointment.

“This reshuffle has handed power to Amanda Stoker, another of the small but noisy ‘Christian Soldiers’ faction hijacking the national agenda,” Szubanski wrote on Twitter.

Grace Tame, I salute you & your courage. This reshuffle has handed power to Amanda Stoker, another of the small but noisy “Christian Soldiers” faction hijacking the national agenda. All because a few guys can’t keep their dick in their pants. And worse 😠 https://t.co/YR63O2QnFs

— Magda Szubanski AO (@MagdaSzubanski) April 3, 2021