Ah… no.
The NSW Liberal Party today elected a new party leader in Gladys Berejiklian. In the coming days, she’ll be sworn in as the Premier of NSW, following the shock resignation of Mike Baird.
Berejiklian – who’s been representing Willoughby for the Liberal Party of Australia since 2003 – was previously the NSW Treasurer. She’s also chalked up stints as the Minister for Transport and the Minister for the Hunter. She was wildly expected to win to the vote for party leader, and when push came to shove, stood unopposed.
Essentially, she’s got this.
And yet, within minutes of her first press conference, Berejiklian was asked about being an unmarried, childless woman.
Australia has seen this before: when Julia Gillard became our first female prime minister in 2010, and certain factions of the media / political commentators became weirdly obsessed by her unmarried, childless state. Like, how could a WOMAN who is not a MOTHER fill the greatest role of all: being mother to all her Australian citizens/babies? Truly, the mind boggles.
That particular brand of sexism has lain fairly dormant in the subsequent Abbott–Turnbull years, but with Berejiklian voted the first female party leader of the NSW Libs, it’s reared its ugly head again today.
During her first press conference as Premier-elect, a journalist asked if she was prepared for “questions about her marriage status and her child status” à la Julia Gillard.
“I have been in public life for a long time,” Berejiklian replied. “I have been a senior member for six years. I am ready for anything.”
But the journalists persisted regardless. “Are you prepared for those questions?”
To which Berejiklian replied, “Sure, ask me one.”
So the journalist did, inexplicably comparing her with former Premier Morris Iemma, who hasn’t served in that role since 2008. We’ve had four Premiers since then.
“The obvious question is, do you think this is a disadvantage politically because people have kids and they have families and people identify with that like they did with Morris Iemma…”
Berejiklian cut in:
“Take me as you see me. [Deputy Premier-elect] Dominic Perrottet has made up for me, he has four kids. I am someone who has always been myself. Not all of us can plan how our life turns out. I am a very happy person. If you asked me 20 years ago would my life look like this? It probably wouldn’t be how it looks like. But I am grateful for the opportunities I have had.
“I also want to say again, not because I have to but because I want to, the closest people in my life are my family. I am not going to judge anybody on their personal circumstances. I am here to govern for everybody and I hope that people judge me on my merits and what I can do.”
Here’s everything else you need to know about NSW’s new Premier.
