Cash strapped, but no apology for staff smear

Tony Abbott says Jobs Minister’s threat to name young women in Bill Shorten’s office was a “brain snap” and a “cheap smear”.

Michaelia Cash in Senate estimates yesterday. Picture: AAP

Federal Jobs Minister Michaelia Cash has been forced to withdraw comments in which she threatened to name “every young woman” working in Bill Shorten’s office who had been subject to rumours.

But Senator Cash refused to apologise for the comments which were attacked as disgraceful and sexist by the ALP and a “brain snap” by Tony Abbott.

After being questioned by Labor’s Doug Cameron about whether her new chief of staff came from another Liberal office, Senator Cash responded: “If you want to start discussing staff matters, be very, very careful because I’m happy to sit here and name every young woman in Mr Shorten’s office over which rumours in this place abound. If you want to go down that path today, I will do it.’’

When Senator Cameron interjected that her comments were a nonsense, she said: “Do you want to start naming them? Do you want to start naming them for Mr Shorten to come out and deny any of the rumours that have been circulating in this building now for many, many years?”

Senator Wong joined the Senate estimates hearing, accusing Senator Cash of outrageous slurs that impugned the character of staff working in Mr Shorten’s office. She said the comments were disgraceful, sexist and should not be allowed to stand. She said the matter would be dealt with on the floor of the Senate unless she withdrew the comments.

Senator Cash initially sought to defend her comments before saying that if anyone was offended, she would withdraw.

Mr Abbott said there had been too much “cheap smear” from the ALP and the Liberal Party but it was particularly bad when it came from Senator Cash, given ministers were “supposed to operate to higher standards”. “We had no less a person than the Prime Minister go out to the courtyard the other day and pontificate about higher standards,’’ he told 2GB. “I have got to say it was a pretty bad lapse from the minister.”

A spokeswoman for Senator Cash said she did not intend to apologise for the comments. Senator Cash was representing the minister for women in estimates.

Deputy Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek demanded Senator Cash apologise, accusing her of using the hearing to attack young women working in politics.

“Her comments undermine the professionalism of the many competent, intelligent, hard-working young women who work on all sides of politics,’’ she said. “The comments are disgraceful — sexist — she should apologise.’’

She said Malcolm Turnbull should prevail upon Senator Cash to apologise for the comments which she called ghastly, sexist and a 1950s-style throwback.

“Today the Minister for Jobs attacked young women doing their jobs. Today, the minister representing the minister for women smeared young women.”

A spokesman for Mr Shorten declined to comment.