Sky News host Rita Panahi says independent candidate for Goldstein Zoe Daniel has falsely accused John Howard of using “gendered language” after a reference to “anti-Liberal groupies”.
“Gendered language like anti-Liberal groupies is inappropriate in a democratic process,” Ms Daniel said.
Ms Panahi described the comment from the independent as an “outrageous bit of dishonesty”.
“These men and women are all posing as independents, they're not independents, they're anti-Liberal groupies,” Mr Howard said.
“Their aim is to hurt the Liberal Party, not to represent the middle ground of the electorate.”
Ms Panahi said to take note of the words “these men and women”.
“If Zoe Daniel identifies as a 'groupie' or sees the word ‘groupie’ as quintessentially female, that's on her – it's certainly not something Mr Howard said or implied,” Ms Panahi said.
