International Women’s Day: Australian PM says ‘we don't want to see women rise’ if it means men do worse

‘We’re not about setting Australians against each other, trying to push some down to lift others up’

Australian prime minister Scott Morrison speaks at the Chamber of Minerals and Energy Western Australia's International Women's Day breakfast in Perth, Australia (EPA)

Australia’s prime minister has provoked a backlash after he said women’s empowerment should not come at the expense of men.

Scott Morrison was giving an address to mark International Women’s Day when he said his government wanted to see women rise, but not “on the basis of others doing worse”.

Speaking at a function organised by Australia’s mining industry, he referred to comments made by the country’s minister for women, Kelly O’Dwyer, and said “gender equality isn’t about pitting girls against boys”.

“We’re not about setting Australians against each other, trying to push some down to lift others up,” Mr Morrison said, according to The Guardian. “That is an absolutely liberal value, that you don’t push some people down to lift some people up. And that is true about gender equality too.

“We want to see women rise. But we don’t want to see women rise only on the basis of others doing worse.”

Mr Morrison’s critics have pointed out just 22 per cent of sitting Liberal Party members across Australia’s two houses of parliament are women, CNN reported.

Meanwhile 44 per cent of sitting members of the opposition Labour Party are women.

Mr Morrison went on to say the Liberal Party has selected 19 women as candidates for the upcoming election.

He later shared a video message marking International Women’s Day, in which told Australians: “Today I’d encourage you to take a moment to acknowledge and appreciate all the women in your life.

“I’m blessed to live with three amazing women, with Jenny and Abby and Lily. You know the women in your life. And to women right across our nation, thank you so much.”