Sunday Times 2
Opposition apologises to Australian PM
Labour leader said to be ‘deeply shocked’ by sexist dinner menu drawn up by the opposition Liberal Party which served up ‘Julia Gillard quail with small breasts, huge thighs’ at fundraiser
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard was said to be ‘deeply shocked’ today by a sexist dinner menu drawn up by the opposition Liberal Party in which she was likened to a quail with ‘small breasts, huge thighs and a big red box’.
Details of the menu at a fundraising event in Brisbane were revealed after Miss Gillard’s warning that if her Labour Party lost the general election in September, the incoming Liberals would be ‘dominated by men in blue ties’ and women would be given only minor roles.
But her remarks paled into insignificance with the new row over the dinner menu which former Labour Prime Minister Kevin Rudd described as a ‘snide, dirty and sexist trick.’ Former Liberal government minister Mal Brough who was involved with organising the dinner apologised for what he said was a ‘deeply offensive and sexist description’ of the Prime Minister.
Political observers said the dinner menu’s contents had blunted the Liberal Party’s attack on Miss Gillard’s campaign to warn about about the threat of male dominance in government if the Liberals won the election, as the opinion polls are suggesting. The dinner menu made its unsubtle attack on British-born Miss Gillard under the title of Moroccan Quail.
It described the dish as: ‘Julia Gillard Kentucky Fried Quail – Small Breasts, Huge Thighs and a Big Red Box.’ Mr Rudd, the former Labour Prime Minister who was pushed aside by Miss Gillard in a party room coup in June 2010 but who is rumoured to be planning a fight-back for the top job, was also targeted on the menu.
His name was linked to a dish called ‘Rudd’s a Goose Foie Gras.’ Hitting out, Mr Rudd, who by coincidence was wearing a bright blue tie, savaged Mr Brough for the stunt.
‘He’s a former minister in the Howard government, number two he’s a highly experienced politician, number three he organised the fundraiser which used all these menus, four it wasn’t a mistake – he knew it was being used – five he’s apologised because he’s been found out,’ said Mr Rudd.
He suggested that every dollar raised at the fundraising event should now be donated to the RSPCA as a mark of contrition.
Liberal leader Tony Abbott was also quick to condemn the menu, calling it ‘tawdry’.
© Daily Mail, London
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