Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to an interview in which Australian of the Year Grace Tame has said that, after her powerful acceptance speech at the award ceremony, the Prime Minister went over and that: 'He leant over and right in my ear he goes: "Well, gee, I bet it felt good to get that out."' Can the Prime Minister confirm that that was his response to this brave woman's extraordinary speech?

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would agree: it was indeed a very brave speech. I can't recall the exact words I used, but I wouldn't seek to correct in any way, shape or form what Ms Tame has said. That is roughly my recollection. That was a very brave statement, and that's exactly what I meant when I said that to her on that occasion. It was a very proud moment for her and her great struggle and challenge over a long period of time, and what she did on that occasion was to speak with a very strong voice about what had occurred to her, and I think raising her voice in that way would have given great agency to so many victims of sexual abuse and harassment all around this country, and that is exactly what I meant—exactly what I meant—and I don't know why some other meaning may have been put upon those words.