Election 2022: ‘Problem solver’ Scott Morrison sorry for seeming to be blunt

Scott Morrison has again ­apologised for ‘insensitive ­language’ that may have turned off female voters.

Scott Morrison in Brisbane on Monday. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

Scott Morrison has again ­apologised for “insensitive ­language” that may have turned off female voters and has listed ­fighting violence against women as one of his top two personal priorities, along with trying to prevent suicide.

The Prime Minister, who described himself last week as a bit of a “bulldozer” doing things during the pandemic in the past two years, said he understood why people would feel there was a lack of understanding from him because he “goes straight to a ­solution”.

“I appreciate people want to see you demonstrating more of that understanding of what is going on. It doesn’t mean it’s not there, it just means I went straight to the solution,” Mr Morrison told The Australian.

Mr Morrison said part of his message to women now was for understanding that when confronted with challenges during the pandemic crisis “my response has been to do things”.

“I appreciate that people want a demonstration of the understanding,” he said.

But with his wife, Jenny, next to him for a brief stop during ­campaigning in the Brisbane seat of Blair, Mr Morrison said as “Jenny will tell you, that’s what I do”.

“Jenny calls it the Morrison men problem,” he added.

“My father was a police officer, I have a brother who is a paramedic, we are blokes who are trying to solve a problem.

“Does that mean I can be more understanding in my language, even if you are in a pandemic dealing with a million things, there is no doubt on occasions my language could have been more sensitive.”

Mr Morrison said the violence against women, which resulted in the death of one woman every 11 days, was almost indescribable and his government had supplied $2.5bn to prevent violence against women, including safe housing and security.

“It is so unimaginable, the violence,” he said.

“Every 11 days a woman is lost to violence along with over 3000 people taking their lives through suicide every year. These are things I think about a lot.

“My response is go and do something about it. A lot of people talk about these things. My government does something about it.”