Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Hansard source

First of all, Senator Bushby's spokesperson said that Senator Wong was overly sensitive and using her gender to hide her overreaction to a simple request, but later, I acknowledge, the senator did tell news.com.au that he had not intended to attack Senator Wong because she was a woman. Senator Bushby said:

Her reaction to the issue of the secretary's appearance was like that of an angry cat. It could have been a male or female cat. So I thought she was like an angry cat, the way they sometimes strike out. I like cats.

Honourable members interjecting—

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