SA’s Liberal leader Hurn names and shames sexist troll
A man who posted a sexist comment on state Liberal leader Ashton Hurn’s social media feed has been publicly called out.
Facebook user Gary, whose surname InDaily has withheld, said that “It looks like you would be good in bed but that’s it” under one of SA Liberal leader Ashton Hurn‘s posts.
The sexist comment was made after Hurn changed her Facebook profile picture, and the poster has since removed the comment.
Hurn said today that “people are entitled to their views on policy” but that “some comments cross a line”.
“We owe it to the next generation to show that this kind of behaviour isn’t something you just have to put up with online,” she said.
“In my mind, the rule of thumb is – would you want your kids or grandkids to read your comment?”
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InDaily understands that Hurn has been targeted before by derogatory comments on her social media accounts, which she has also called out.
Hurn posted a screenshot of the comment on her Facebook and Instagram story yesterday, responding to the man by saying, “Be better Gary. Seriously”.
The screenshot was also posted on the SA Liberal Party social media accounts.
InDaily contacted Gary to ask about the comment, whether he regretted making the post and if he would apologise to Hurn.
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Last week, in a sit-down interview with InDaily, Hurn said that she had not personally experienced gender discrimination as a politician.
“First and foremost, I’m here and able to be in this role because they (voters) put their trust in me to be their local MP, but I don’t think too much about it from a gender perspective,” she said.
“I just think there’s a job to do and that’s my focus – it’s not front of mind for me, really.”
Hurn went on to say she hoped to be an inspiration to aspiring female leaders.
“I hope I can inspire the next generation of female leaders who are coming through as well, to say that you can put yourself forward for any role that you’d like to achieve,” she said.
Hurn represents the Lower House seat of Schubert and was elected unopposed as leader of the SA Liberal Party after the shock resignation of former leader Vincent Tarzia.
