Australian election heats up with ‘sex appeal’ politician row
A sexism row has livened up the Australian election campaign after Liberal leader Tony Abbott departed from the party line to pronounce that one of his colleagues, Fiona Scott, had ‘sex appeal’.
Rather than denounce the ill-advised remarks however the former Labour leader Mark Latham added to the female politicians discomfort by stating that Abbott must have had his ‘beer goggles on’ whilst making the remark.
Speaking to a radio show Latham added that Scott was ‘not that good of a sort’, saying: “She doesn’t have sex appeal at all. It showed very bad judgment and it shows he has low standards. She’s a rather plain, ordinary-looking woman and Abbott has exaggerated massively to try and win her vote among the blokes.
“In politics they say it’s showbiz for ugly people and I don’t think she’ll be out of place.”
The comments prompted an intervention from presenter Tom Elliott who pointed out that his remarks were worse than Abbott’s.
Abbott has since expressed regret at uttering the words.