Queensland Liberal Senator James McGrath has lashed out at Australian of The Year Grace Tame’s “childish” attacks on the Prime Minister, suggesting she hand back the award.
In an extraordinary attack after images emerged of Ms Tame’s tense meeting with the Prime Minister at his home in Canberra today with his wife, Jenny, Senator McGrath said he was sick of her “partisan” attacks.
After months of public criticism of the Prime Minister by Ms Tame, Senator McGrath said if she didn’t like the job she should “hand back the honour.”
“The important issues raised by last year’s Australian of the Year must continue to be addressed by all of us,’’ he said.
“It is a pity her behaviour and attacks on our Prime Minister are so partisan, political and childish. If she didn’t like being Australian of the Year she should hand back the honour.”
Senator McGrath is no stranger to public controversy himself.
He was sacked by Boris Johnson in 2008 for suggesting that African-Caribbean people should emigrate if they were unhappy living in Tory-controlled London.
Senator McGrath was recorded on tape saying, “Well, let them go if they don’t like it here.”
Mr Johnson, who was London mayor at the time, said his aide was “not racist” but had made an error of judgement.
Extraordinary photos captured a tense moment with the Prime Minister and Ms Tame at The Lodge.
The 27-year-old advocate for survivors of sexual assault arrived at the 2022 Australian of the Year Finalists morning tea on Tuesday.
She was seen looking unimpressed as Mr and Mrs Morrison stood for photos with other people as she waited to enter the event
“Hello Grace,” the Prime Minister was then heard saying.
“G’day,” she responded.
“How are you going? Congratulations on the engagement,” Mr Morrison continued.
“Thank you,” Ms Tame said, not making eye contact with the Prime Minister.
She then smiled at Jenny who said something that couldn’t be heard.
Ms Tame then appeared visibly unimpressed while standing for photos next to the Prime Minister.
She didn’t say anything once the photos were taken before walking off.
Ms Tame had earlier tweeted an image about her two days in Canberra: “On second thoughts let’s not go to Canberra. It’s a silly place,” it said.
Ms Tame was named the 2021 Australian of the Year after overturning a Tasmanian law that prevented her from speaking about her experiences of sexual assault when she was just 15.
“I lost my virginity to a paedophile. I was 15, anorexic; he was 58, he was my teacher,” she said in her powerful acceptance speech.
“For months he groomed me and then abused me almost every day. Before school, after school, in my uniform, on the floor.
“I didn’t know who I was.
“Australia, we’ve come a long way but there’s still more work to do in a lot of areas.”
Ms Tame later told the Betoota Advocate podcast that she was perplexed by Mr Morrison’s words to her after the speech.
“Do you know what he said to me, right after I finished that speech and we’re in front of a wall of media?” Ms Tame said.“I sh*t you not, he leant over and right in my ear he goes, ‘Well, gee, I bet it felt good to get that out’.”
Mr Morrison later defended his words when coming under fire for them during Question Time.
“That is roughly my recollection,” he told parliament.
“That was a very brave statement, that is exactly what I meant when I said that to her on that occasion.”
Ms Tame also criticised Mr Morrison’s handling of the Brittany Higgins sexual assault allegations.
She was asked what she thought about the Prime Minister saying he spoke to his wife Jenny, which helped him understand the seriousness.
“Jenny and I spoke last night and she said to me, ‘you have to think about this as a father. What would you want to happen if it were our girls?’” Mr Morrison had said.
“Jenny has a way of clarifying things. Always has. And so, as I’ve reflected on that overnight and listened to Brittany and what she had to say.”
Ms Tame said it shouldn’t take having children to have a conscience.
“And actually, on top of that, having children doesn’t guarantee a conscience,” she added.
