This article was last updated on April 16, 2022
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Opposition Leader Tony Abbott invited trouble by rejecting a ‘pair’ sought by a female Labor backbencher. Michelle Rowland, the MP for Greenway in Sydney’s west, had sought a ‘pair’ from the coalition because her infant daughter Octavia was unwell.
Explaining the rejection, Warren Entsch said the application submitted by Ms Rowland was vague and it did not seem a matter of great urgency. He said since there was no attempt to provide more information, the request was denied.
“It seems rather bizarre to be putting in a request on Monday or Tuesday asking for leave on Thursday night because her child is unwell. If it’s unwell now, she should be with it,” Mr Entsch said on television.
Nevertheless, the rejection created havoc while the majority lashed out at Mr Abbott, accusing him for underestimating a woman’s role in running a family. Families Minister Jenny Macklin went to the extent of telling the parliament that Mr Entsch should be sacked.
“He is so out of touch with the needs of a working mother here in this parliament who needed time off to be with her baby,” he said.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has been expressing concern over opposition leader’s inability to understand working women. Mr Abbott has often been accused of being misogynistic.
“Can I say very clearly, what has happened with this matter makes an absolute mockery of everything the leader of the opposition has ever said about working women. It just shows so clearly that he doesn’t get it,” PM Gillard said.
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