Queensland’s Shadow Minister for Women shouted ‘close your legs’ at her Labor opponent during a wild outburst in parliament.
Shannon Fentiman, the minister for women, health, mental health and ambulance services, was speaking in Queensland state parliament on Wednesday when the crude remark was made by member for Mudgeeraba, Ros Bates.
‘Close your legs!’ Ms Bates called out, prompting Ms Fentiman to stop speaking and look visibly shocked.
Fellow politicians groaned with disgust before Ms Bates was asked to withdraw her comment.
She quickly stood up and said she withdrew the comment but has since copped heavy criticism.
Shannon Fentiman, (pictured) was told to ‘close your legs’ during parliament on Wednesday and appeared visibly shocked by the remark
Queensland Premier Steven Miles blasted the remark as ‘disgraceful’.
‘No woman should be treated like this in a workplace, or anywhere for that matter,’ he wrote on X.
Ms Fentiman shared a clip of the outburst to her X account and explained she had been talking about women’s health and maternity services at the time.
In response to the backlash, Ms Bates shared a lengthy statement to her own social media and shockingly demanded she receive an apology from Ms Fentiman.
She claimed the comment was not about the health minister but was about ‘the alarming Queensland maternity crisis’.
Ros Bates was asked to withdraw the comment during parliament on Wednesday
Queensland Premier Steven Miles blasted the remark as ‘disgraceful’
‘We have had women give birth on the side of the road in Queensland due to maternity services being closed in regional areas and this is what we were demanding the Health Minister answer for today,’ she said.
Ms Bates went on to say that Ms Fentiman was ‘aware’ she has been a victim of domestic violence.
‘For her to mischaracterise my words for her own political gain and attempt to portray me as a misogynist is deeply offensive,’ she continued.
In response to the backlash, Ms Bates shared a lengthy statement to her own social media and shockingly demanded she receive an apology from Ms Fentiman.
‘As the Health Minister and Minister for Women, Shannon Fentiman should be ashamed of herself.
‘I am demanding the Health Minister apologise and admit she deliberately misrepresented parliament.’
X users were left unimpressed by her statement with one saying it was a ‘pathetic explanation’.
‘Inappropriate and unprofessional either way,’ another said.
‘If this is true, why did you withdraw the comment?’ one wrote.
‘Doesn’t cut the mustard,’ one X user said.
‘The truth does matter and we all heard what you said, no matter what dross you’re trotting out here,’ another commented.
The shadow minister has copped heavy criticism online for her outburst
