Labor’s first female Muslim MP has accused a Liberal-National MP of a “racist” and “misogynistic” statement in a fiery rebuke online.
Cowan MP Anne Aly responded to comments during question time on Tuesday by Moncrieff MP Angie Bell in which she said Mr Aly and Anthony Albanese “should be absolutely shamed and stoned in the square” over the Australian Taxation Office’s decision to ban credit card payments for businesses.
In an Instagram video, Ms Aly said she did not “usually comment about these sorts of things”.
“But, I feel like I have to,” she said.
“This past week alone I’ve had 19 death threats on my social media, and in the past I’ve had death threats that are couched in that exact same language.”
Ms Aly said the phrase “stone her” was not just “something that a parliamentarian shouldn’t say in terms of advocating violence against another parliamentarian”.
“It is something that stands against our Australian values,” she said.
“We are a country that proudly stands against violence against women and against regimes that usual brutal methods like stoning against women.
“This is not just something that we should just turn away from.
“It is racist. It is misogynistic. And it is something that should never have been said.”
Ms Bell was asked during question time to withdraw the comment and did so.
Asked about the comment, Liberal frontbencher Tim Wilson noted on the ABC that “Angie was the first to hop up and withdraw her comments”.
“No one fights harder for the Gold Coast, no one fights harder for small business, and she was doing a wonderful job on the front bench, but also as a local member,” he said.
Pressed, he said language in politics “does matter and that is why she did the right thing and withdrew it”.