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Grace Tame, Brittany Higgins hit back after Scott Morrison’s keynote Women’s Safety Summit speech

Ellen Ransley and Erin LyonsNCA NewsWire
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Camera IconNot Supplied Credit: News Corp Australia

Scott Morrison has come under fire during the delivery of his keynote speech while opening the Australian Women’s Safety Summit.

The two-day online conference is aimed at shaping policies around ending violence against women and children.

During his speech on Monday morning, Mr Morrison thanked the thousands of women and girls who shared their experiences with sexual and physical violence.

The Prime Minister said he was shocked at the stories of women who did not feel safe in their own country, including in Parliament House.

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But his decision to read out testimonies from sexual assault survivors sparked immediate outrage.

Australian of the Year Grace Tame, who will be involved in the preventing and responding to sexual violence panel on Tuesday, said sharing those stories was inexcusable.

“Scott has just finished his opening keynote address … in which he appropriated private disclosures from survivors to leverage his own image,” Ms Tame wrote.

“Gee, I bet it felt good to get that out,” she wrote, a reference to what she claims Mr Morrison told her after her Australian of the Year speech.

PM National Summit on Women's Safety 2021
Camera IconPrime Minister Scott Morrison is under fire for reading out testimonies from sexual assault survivors. NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage Credit: News Corp Australia

During his speech, Mr Morrison made reference to the government’s reaction to Brittany Higgins’ complaint that she had been allegedly sexually assaulted by a staffer in Parliament House.

Ms Higgins, arguably one of the major figureheads for ending sexual violence in Australia, revealed she had not even been invited to the event.

Minister for women’s economic security Jane Hume was quizzed about why the government did not initially invite Ms Higgins.

ABC host Patricia Karvelas grilled the politician and suggested the only reason Ms Higgins was invited was because the ACT government and the Victims of Crime Commissioner stepped in.

“Each state and territory got to choose their delegates to have along to the summit. I’m very pleased that the ACT chose to have Brittany along,” Senator Hume said.

“No one could possibly accuse the government of excluding people. Quite the opposite.”

But Ms Karvelas argued that the federal government could have invited her.

WOMEN'S RALLY
Camera IconGrace Tame said the Prime Minister should not have used private testimonies. Nikki Davis-Jones Credit: News Corp Australia

“Do you think, with the benefit of hindsight, it would have been a better idea to have just done that?,” she asked.

Senator Hume argued: “My understanding is that the federal government invited people that worked at national bodies to end violence, or dealt with frontline services.

“I’m very pleased she’s participating but obviously a delegation via the states is an the appropriate place to go.”

She’s was also asked why the federal government had only implemented six of the recommendations of the Respect@Work report, after the prime minister previously suggested the government would implement all of them.

“Of the 55 recommendations, not all were directed to government, some were directed to state governments and some were directed to businesses,” Senator Hume explained.

“Of the 15 that were to government, there were a number that were legislated last week. There are some recommendations that are more complex and more work is required on those and more work is currently being done.”

Mr Morrison on Monday said Ms Higgins’ allegations over the government response had prompted conversations about “longstanding and serious failings in this Parliament House” that had “turned into a conversation about women’s experiences everywhere”.

“Right now, too many women do not feel safe, and too often, they are not safe and that is not OK,” Mr Morrison said.

PM National Summit on Women's Safety 2021
Camera IconPrime Minister Scott Morrison says ‘too many women do not feel safe’. NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage Credit: News Corp Australia

“There is no excuse, and sorry doesn’t cut it.

“They are not safe at home, they are not safe at work, in broad daylight … in public spaces.

“Here in this place, even this place where I speak to you from today, you are not always safe.

“Australia does have a problem … There is still an attitude, a culture that excuses and justifies, ignores or condones gender inequality … And that is on all of us.”

Taking to Twitter, Ms Higgins said she respected Mr Morrison’s “ambitious spirit” for the summit, but she “just can’t match this government's actions with the platitudes and warm sentiments they are all extending today”.

Ms Higgins also thanked the ACT government and the Victims of Crime Commission who “kindly stepped in at the last minute” to invite her as a delegate.

Mr Morrison said he had been inundated with testimonies and letters detailing horrific sexual and domestic violence from women of all ages from across the country.

Brittany Higgins Meeting
Camera IconMr Morrison said Brittany Higgins’ allegations over the government response had started an important conversation. NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw Credit: News Corp Australia

“Through all the letters and emails, I felt that rage. The dread and the frustration that our culture is not changing,” Mr Morrison said.

“And there was something more, it was quieter, there was fatigue.

“One letter explained, I’m exhausted just thinking about these things. I’m exhausted making what is now automatic adjustments to my behaviour. I’m exhausted having to try and explain why I’m exhausted.

“I’m so sick and tired of being scared, she said.

“To all those who wrote to me, again, I say thank you.”

Mr Morrison said men, families, friends, businesses, sporting organisations, media, education providers, community organisations and government had a part to play in changing the country.

“I want all the women and every girl in this nation to live without fear,” he said.

“I know everyone joining us for this summit wants the same thing.”

Originally published as Grace Tame, Brittany Higgins hit back after Scott Morrison’s keynote Women’s Safety Summit speech

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