From the desk of Roland Rocchiccioli – 4 April

Let us not be silly! Of course the Prime Minister was not suggesting the women of Australia are lucky not to be fired-upon when they take to the streets in protest.

HIS ridiculous mixed metaphor was nothing more, nor less, than another tedious example of political gobbledegook; however, it does have more serious implications. Viewed through any social prism, his tenuous analogy was absurd, and totally insensitive. Certainly, it should have been said differently, if at all, and served to underscore, in the roundest and loudest of terms, the gender inequality which is yet to be eradicated.

Attempts to explain, even justify the unfortunate comparison, have further highlighted a seeming deficiency in Mr Morrison’s appreciation of the issue. Gender inequality is a patriarchal problem, although the recent performance by Federal Minister for Women, Marise Payne, has done little to serve the sisterhood.

In this instance, the Prime Minister’s warped thought process has left many shaking their heads, incredulously. To imagine it is acceptable to bizarrely equate Australian women protestors with the Myanmar military coup, with all its implications, is too stupid for words.

That it took a discussion with his wife to bring a personal perspective, and clarity, to the seriousness of the Parliament House rape allegations speaks volumes. Obfuscating, and gossip as a defence, is not what the nation demands when it comes to such an important issue. Resorting, as he did, to his ‘daggy-dad’ and ‘blokes-don’t-always-get-it-right’ act, might, in some quarters, be confirmation of a decided lack of judgement and empathy. It might be argued, in light of what has transpired since the revelations, that Mr Morrison is not the man for the job. He stumbles from one disastrous press conference to the next.

In 40 minutes of diatribe there was not mention of even one planned action to solve the problem. Being told we have to do better is obvious. We want action.

Equally disquieting, is the revelation, confirmed ABC television’s 7.30, by the former Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop, of the Canberra MP’s ‘big swinging dicks’ club.

The Bug website reported:

“…apparently (it’s) been common knowledge within the corridors of power for many years now.

The club wielded its obviously enormous powers several years ago to thwart former Foreign Minister Julie Bishop’s bid for the top job, after Malcolm Turnbull was deposed as PM.

The club’s decision to ruthlessly cut her down was based, not on her talents, her performance as deputy party leader for six years, or her clear potential as leader after her success on the international stage, but solely on the fact she clearly didn’t shape up in one crucial area.”

That such a childish, sexist men’s club could exist in any parliament, anywhere in the world, in the 21st century, illustrates how much needs to be done, and how little has been achieved.

Across the nation, rallies attracted crowds of enraged women, and men. The Pankhurst sisters would have approved of this fight against gender inequality. It is inconceivable that 51 per cent of the Australian population is treated, in this day and age, as second-rate citizens. It is too depressing to ponder the depth of talent which has been allowed to slip through the net as a consequence of blatant misogyny. The annals of commerce, science, education, the arts, and every other area of workplace endeavour, are rife with jaw-dropping tales of female subjugation. Marriage, men decided, atrophied women’s intellectually capacity!

The hubris of men is such they do not realise they have been, over 2000 years of history, causative.  Self-evidently, it is time to hand the reins of power to women. Certainly, they could not make the situation any worse.

Two banners best encapsulated the much-needed change:

One man’s sign read: “This is what a feminist looks like.”

A young woman’s placard read: “Think outside of my box!”

The revolution has commenced.

Roland can be heard with Brett Macdonald each Monday at 10.45am on 3BA and contacted via [email protected].