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GETTING PERSONAL

May 03 04:07pm

Jackie Frank, editor/publisher of marie claire, spoke out this morning on Channel 7's Sunrise programme about Bill Heffernan's; comments regarding Julia Gillard.

Frank's remarks came after Heffernan, a NSW Liberal senator, said the deputy Labour leader was unfit for political leadership because she chose career over motherhood.

In an interview with The Bulletin magazine Heffernan said those who "deliberately remain barren" had "no idea what life's about."

"If you're a leader, you've got to understand your community," he said. "One of the great understandings in a community is family, and the relationship between mum, dad and a bucket of nappies."

Amid ensuing outrage, Gillard accepted Heffernan's subsequent apology saying, "He's made his comments, they are personal comments, I took them on the chin."

However Frank said Heffernan should apologise to "all Australian women, saying "[He is] sexist, ignorant, judgmental ... the man needs to resign or be sacked. It is the most outrageous comment I have heard. To use use the word 'barren' ... What do you know about her personal situation? "

Have your say: Tell us what you think of Heffernan's remarks.

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Watch the Sunrise segment

28 Comments Report Abuse

1. j1008m - May 03 02:17pm

All I can say is thank you Jackie Frank for saying so well what so many women have been saying. Not good enough! Thanks for the outrage

2. veronrose - May 03 02:40pm

I suppose he was one of the typical older generation fathers who left all the child raising to " the wife"!!!!! though that is supposition on my part. How dare he make a personal comment like that!

3. annefrances32 - May 03 02:57pm

I'm wondering how the childless women on his side of the chamber feel to know they have a colleague with these views? Apart from being outrageous and deeply offensive, Mr Heffernan's comments are also very presumptuous. His narrow mindedness, backward thinking, and sexist views are now in full view. If he is not going to resign and Howard doesn't have the conviction to sack him, he should be removed from the Senate ticket and replaced by his party at the next election.

4. wileecoyote80 - May 03 03:05pm

What I find silly about this whole debacle is that male politicians who do have kids probably don't know any more about what the "average" family goes through than the childless Julia Gillard. The demands of their political careers probably leave them with minimal time to spend with their children and partners. Their hefty salary packages hardly allow a true appreciation for the struggles of average mums and dads either. I remember reading an article where Julia Gillard explained she does not pl

5. possum2love - May 03 03:12pm

I personally think that Julia Gillard has handled the situation very well - if she were a man, she would possibly be jumping up and down crying out murder for such a public attack on her personal being. However, it just goes to show that regardless of your personal situation, one does have the ability to lead a successful career, even as a deputy opposition leader of a nation when your a woman. I do not know if not having children was a personal or medical choice of hers - really it is no-one el

6. kathham2000 - May 03 03:45pm

When will male politicians stop thinking they have the right to comment on women's decisions about procreation. My god, are we all born to breed ?! I think I woke up in 1972.

7. valenn1 - May 03 03:47pm

I think what Heffernan said was dumb as, but he isn't the first politician/activist to say something like that. Plenty of times male politicians get told to stay out of women's issues because they aren't women, and that's just one example. It's just the usual tactic- claim someone can't talk about something because they haven't experienced it personally. Personally, it's rubbish no matter who says it- you don't have to be stabbed to know it hurts (if you'll excuse the extreme example).

8. sarahlouisemchugh - May 03 03:49pm

Heffernen's ignorant and repulsive behaviour just shows how poorly recruited Liberal senators are. If he were to try and gain any type of high level role in the 'real world' after displaying such blatant ignorance and obvious sexist behaviour. If Howard does not sack him, it will be another bungle for the liberal party.

9. chez006 - May 03 03:53pm

What a childish person Heffernan is our taxes are paying for him and are being wasted. He should be sacked right now or quit. I shudder to think on the intelligent politicions we have in the Liberal party. Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard have far more superior intellect and integrity that anyone I have wanted to vote for years. GO KEVIN & JULIA

10. gaeldami1 - May 03 04:20pm

if julia did have kids, heffernan would have probably said that she shouldn't work so much and be a better mother...i realise politics can be a dirty game but perhaps heffernan and co time would be better employed actually coming up with new policies to make our country better rather than all this childish mudslinging. we're all over it.