NSW deputy Labor leader apologises for posting picture of Premier Gladys Berejiklian as a witch

Updated

Deputy NSW Opposition Leader Penny Sharpe has been criticised for tweeting a sign depicting Premier Gladys Berejiklian as a witch and labelling her as "the Wicked Witch of the Fest".

Key points: Ms Sharpe deleted her post and apologised after a backlash on Twitter

Some commenters compared the incident to the 2011 furore over Julia Gillard being likened to a witch

The sign was part of a protest over the NSW Government's new music festival rules

The photo was taken at last night's Don't Kill Live Music Rally in Sydney's Hyde Park, where protestors were rallying against the State Government's new music festival regulations.

"I was at the festivals rally last night and I posted a number of signs that were there," Ms Sharpe said.

"When I looked back about 15 minutes later and saw that I posted the witch sign, I deleted it straight away because it was inappropriate."

Minister for Family and Community Services Pru Goward called for Ms Sharpe to reconsider her position.

"I can't see that there is a place in Parliament for people who treat other parliamentarians like this," she said.

"I'm particularly appalled that Penny Sharpe, with her long record of objecting to exactly this sort of behaviour, should now not be held to account for her own."

Ms Sharpe apologised to the Premier.

"All women in public life shouldn't be subject to that kind of material."

'What an insult'

Corrections Minister David Elliott posted on social media calling for the Labor party to insist Ms Sharpe stand down.

"This woman is Labor's left-wing deputy leader and claims to be the great protector of women's right as well as an advocate for women entering public office," Mr Elliot posted on Facebook.

He shared a screenshot of Ms Sharpe's now-deleted tweet.

"What an insult that she sees fit to call the State's female Premier a 'witch'."

Some commenters compared the incident to backlash levelled against Tony Abbott during a 2011 climate rally protest.

Mr Abbott spoke next to signs labelling former prime minister Julia Gillard as a witch and describing her as "Bob Brown's Bitch".

The posters from last night's rally were critical of the Government's new music festival regulations, which musicians and festival organisers have said are too strict.

Thousands protested the rules, which come into effect from next month, saying there hasn't been enough industry consultation and it could force events interstate.

They changes are being implemented in response to safety concerns over a string of drug related deaths at music festivals last year.

Topics: politics-and-government, social-media, state-elections, sydney-2000, nsw

First posted