The co-organiser of Tuesday’s ‘bro-test’ said the demonstration was “motivated” by comments made by One Nation’s incoming Secret Harbour MP regarding domestic violence, but sought to shift the conversation around the way it is talked about broadly.
Click play to hear more about the protest.
CW: Explicit language
As previously reported, when Luke Herdegen was asked about national leader Pauline Hanson’s remarks about domestic violence—where she labelled it a “two way street”—he said, “it’s not something that anyone is talking about in the community here”.
Herdegen later said his comments had been taken out of context.
Speaking to Youth Jam’s Isaac Mulcrone, Megan McLeod said the protest sought to address rhetoric peddled by some politicians about violence against women, but was sparked by Herdegen’s comments.
“It started with [Herdegen], for sure, obviously we were motivated by his comments during the Secret Harbour election,” she told Newsflash listeners.
“It did end up being a much bigger thing, obviously it is a huge thing and it’s not just Luke’s remarks. Pauline started it with the ‘two way street’ remark. We’re tired of the silence around it, [we] just want more of these public figures calling it out for what it is and that is unacceptable comments about a very, extremely serious issue that our country is dealing with,” she said.
Herdegen attended the protest, watching the crowd exercise and voice their opposition to his comments.
“We did think he was going to be there, because he said he was going to be there to stare us down and that’s exactly what he did,” she said.
McLeod said she didn’t have a message for the far-right party, claiming they’re “too far gone” and “hopeless”.
She encouraged voters to reconsider their options when at the ballot box.
Speaking to media, on Tuesday, Herdegen doubled down.
“I think domestic violence certainly is a problem statewide and nationwide, and that is on both sides. Like I said before, both sexes.
“I think all men and all strong men should protect women in our community,” he said.
Image: WAToday
