Australian PM interrupts female minister speaking about chauvinism and parliament ‘bonk ban’

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been criticised after interrupting a senior ministerial colleague, Anne Ruston, who was responding to a question about the treatment of women in government. 

It came during a news conference in which a reporters asked about allegations of inappropriate behaviour by ministers. 

Ms Ruston, the country’s minister for families and service, was only eight words into her answer when Morrison cut her short.

She was asked for her “reflection on the culture inside [government] … as a woman …" since the introduction of a 2012 ban sexual relations between ministers and their staff. 

“Well Phil, the only thing that I can…” was all she could say before being interrupted.

The 2012 rule, referred to in Australia media as the ‘bonk ban’, followed an affair between then deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and a former worker, that led to his resignation.

Mr Morrison interrupted Ms Ashton to object to the use of the phrase ‘bonk ban’.

“How this ban is referred to I think is quite dismissive of the issue, Phil," he told the reporter.

The topic is back in the news after ABC News’ Four Corners programme investigated the allegation of inappropriate behaviour by ministers.

Ms Ruston eventually responded: “Well, I can only reflect on my own experience since I’ve been in this place since 2012, and I have to say I have always felt wholly supported while I’ve been here."

“Scott, just let her speak,” said Penny Wong,  Labor Party senator for South Australia. 

Former Liberal MP Julia Banks, who quit the party after allegedly experiencing bullying, also chimed in. "Standing by the men. Talking over the women. Making international headlines. So Trumpesque," she wrote.  

Four Corners exposed two previously-unreported affairs involving consevative ministers and younger staff members before the 2012 ban was introduced. 

Rachelle Miller, a party worker who detailed her affair with a minister, told the documentary there was a "significant power imbalance" in relationships between ministers and staffers.

Mr Morrison said he would not investigate the new allegations any further as they had been "dealt with".

 He praised the 2012 ban and said his ministers were in "no doubt about what my expectations are of them", adding, "I think Australians understand human frailty, and I think they understand the people who work in this place are just as human as anyone else."

Former Australian prime minister Julia Gillard received plaudits from women worldwide in 2012 after a speech to parliament in which she castigated then opposition leader Tony Abbott for “sexism and misogyny”.

He went on to become prime minister of Australia and more recently was rewarded with an appointment as Britain’s global trade commissioner by Boris Johnson.