Senator Jacqui Lambie apologises for describing her ideal man as 'well-hung' in radio interview

Updated

Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie has apologised for a radio interview in which she described her perfect man as being well-off and "well-hung".

While a guest on Hobart's Heart 107.3, the outspoken senator said she had not been in a relationship for 11 years because of physical and mental stress.

"That's why I am not so worried about my waxing," she offered.

When asked about removing hair from her legs, bikini line and underarms, Senator Lambie revealed all.

"Right now the state I'm in, I can tell you what, you'd want to bring out that whipper snipper first."

Senator Lambie said when the discussion turned to her lack of a love life she tried to hide her embarrassment by making jokes.

"I apologise to any radio listeners who may be offended by my comments on Kim and Dave's Show," she said in an issued statement.

"Of course my political enemies will make a big deal out of my comments, but the reality is I was talking with Kim and Dave on Heart FM - not Sarah Ferguson on the ABC."

Later, Senator Lambie appeared on Channel 10 where she defended her comments.

"Seems to me there's a few people out there offended and there's a few people that are laughing their rear end off let's be honest," she told Channel 10.

"So I think I may have offended especially the elderly so I do apologise for anybody that I may have offended."



She said her media adviser was happy for her to be herself.

"He doesn't advise me [on] what comes out of my mouth in those situations," she said.

"He just appreciates me being honest and letting my hair down and showing the real me in those sort of situations, and it was a good hard-edged breakfast show, we're all just having a bit of fun."

Both the Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman and Opposition Leader Bryan Green took a dim view of her performance, saying that Tasmanians had reason to expect better from their elected representatives.

Senator Lambie says suitors have to have the right 'package'

In the radio interview, hosts Kim Napier and Dave Noonan, offering to act as match-makers, asked Senator Lambie what attributes she was looking for in a partner.

"They must have heaps of cash and they've got to have a package between their legs, let's be honest," replied Senator Lambie.

"And I don't need them to speak."

When a 22-year-old man named Jamie called as a prospective date, Senator Lambie was prompted to see if he met her requirements.

He assured her he had plenty of money, having inherited a "small fortune".

"Are you well-hung?" asked Senator Lambie.

"Hung like a donkey," Jamie answered.

"Oh is that right! I've got a 24-year-old son who reckons he is too. (He) says that as well."

The senator then agreed to a breakfast date with Jamie.

Comments were a 'disgrace', says Bryan Green

Mr Hodgman said he had not heard the interview, only reports of what Senator Lambie had said, but he said Tasmanians would determine for themselves whether or not they were "getting value for money out of a senator, a Tasmanian senator, who is making comments such as these".

"I would expect Tasmanians will make their own judgment and I would expect it would be relatively harsh," he said.

Labor leader Bryan Green rejected the suggestion that the reaction against Senator Lambie's words was a storm in a teacup.

"No, I thought they were an absolute disgrace," he said.

"We work so hard to build a fantastic reputation for Tasmania and it can be undermined over a few silly words.

I can only imagine the public outrage if a male member of parliament, myself included obviously, had participated in a similar interview and referred to the opposite sex in such a way. All hell would've broken loose. Brett Whiteley, Federal Member for Braddon

"Anybody who listened to that interview would cringe. I did.

"I would have thought a person understanding the significance of the role of senator of Tasmania, representing the Tasmanian people, would have conducted themselves in a different way."

Ultimately, Mr Green was prepared to give Senator Lambie the benefit of the doubt, saying she was on a learning curve.

"She's talking to people on the basis that she almost was having a few drinks in a bar and chatting about things," he said.

"At the end of the day it's much more serious than that. I wish her well for her career, but she's got to change the way she conducts herself in the media."

The Federal Member for Braddon, Brett Whiteley, was not so forgiving.

"I can only imagine the public outrage if a male member of parliament, myself included obviously, had participated in a similar interview and referred to the opposite sex in such a way," he said.

"All hell would've broken loose."

Tasmania's Anti-discrimination Commissioner, Robin Banks, described the comments as disappointing.

"While it's light-hearted, you can be light-hearted without objectifying or being sexist or demeaning to other people," she said.

Topics: federal-parliament, government-and-politics, radio-broadcasting, hobart-7000, tas, australia

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