Bass Liberal MP Bridget Archer defends Grace Tame’s refusal to smile during PM photo op

Bass Liberal MP Bridget Archer has described criticism of Grace Tame’s refusal to smile as ‘disappointing’, saying the former Australian of the Year exercised ‘agency and autonomy’.

Bass Liberal MP Bridget Archer has leapt to the defence of former Australian of the Year, Grace Tame, saying she exercised “agency, autonomy and self-determination” when she refused to smile during a photo opportunity with Prime Minister Scott Morrison last week.

Mrs Archer, who, like Ms Tame, is a survivor of child sexual abuse, said the public backlash against the 27-year-old was “disappointing”.

“Grace Tame has spent many years fighting for the right of child sexual abuse survivors to have agency, autonomy and self-determination and that’s why she was awarded Australian of the Year,” the government backbencher told the Mercury. “So it’s disappointing to see her criticised when she is actually exercising those things herself.”

Member for Bass Bridget Archer and Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Picture: CHRISTOPHER TESTA

“It’s not actually about whether she smiles or not, the conversation should be about how our focus on civility, reputation and our own comfort takes precedence over the uncomfortable reality of abuse survivors and their stories.

“These are the things that enable grooming and abuse to occur in the first place and they are also what allow it to be covered up and ignored.”

Mrs Archer said Ms Tame and ex-political staffer, Brittany Higgins, who alleged she was raped by a male colleague in Parliament House, had “enabled me to find my own voice on these issues”.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA NewsWire Photos JANUARY 25, 2022: Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his wife Jenny with Grace Tame, who appeared to be uncomfortable with the meeting. The PM spoke with at the 2022 Australian of the Year Finalists Morning Tea, at the Lodge in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Ms Tame, who was groomed and repeatedly sexually abused by her then 58-year-old male teacher, Nicolaas Bester, took to social media on Wednesday to address the controversy surrounding her interaction with the PM.

“The survival of abuse culture is dependent on submissive smiles and self-defeating surrenders,” she wrote on Twitter. “It is dependent on hypocrisy.”

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