news, federal-politics

Queensland Liberal senator Amanda Stoker has weighed into accusations of bullying of women in the Liberal Party, labelling the issue "pathetic" and "bizarre". In recent months, female MPs from the party have spoken publicly about bullying, including Ann Sudmalis and Julia Banks, who both announced they would quit politics. However, Senator Stoker - who replaced George Brandis in the Senate in March - argued women were sometimes "infantilised" in the parliamentary process. "We've had over the last couple of weeks this discussion about whether women are being bullied in the Parliament," Senator Stoker said. "I find it paternalistic, pathetic, that women whose job is to be able to represent people in the community and oftentimes people who are doing it tough, then turn around and say they can't speak up for themselves in a private conversation. "The idea there needs to be different treatment for women is just the strangest thing and the fact it's rising makes it all the more bizarre." Senator Stoker, who was speaking at the libetarian LibertyFest conference in Brisbane on Saturday, also voiced her support for repealing section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act. "I think there's something to be said for sometimes going to an election with a policy that is a risk but that you know is right and fighting for something even if you're not necessarily going to be assured of success," she said. "I think it's worth taking a bill to remove 18C... It's worth bringing a bill of that nature I think to the Parliament even if it fails because it says something about who we are and what we stand for." Queensland LNP MP George Christensen agreed with repealing 18C. "If the Senate knocks it back we'll just keep trying until we can get it, that would be what I would be pushing for," he said. Mr Christensen also said he was in favour of laws to protect religious freedom, particularly following the legalisation of same-sex marriage.

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