DHAKA: ‘Vicious’ commentary about Australia’s first female leader Julia Gillard dominates entries for the annual ‘Ernie’ awards for sexism with prime minister Tony Abbott the ‘most constant’ offender.

Organisers said on Tuesday, reports The Straits Times.

There were more than 100 entries for the 2013 gong, which will be decided by the traditional ‘boo-off’ at a gala dinner in Sydney on Wednesday, with founder Meredith Burgmann saying Gillard’s ascension had seen unprecedented hostility against women by lawmakers and the press.

‘The last two years have been the worst ever, in 21 years that we have been doing these (awards),’ Burgmann, formerly a politician herself, told media.

‘In the past we noticed that sportspeople, judges, politicians were quite bad, but they were never particularly vicious. This year the politicians and the media have been terrible.’

BDST: 1445 HRS, OCT 08, 2013
RoR/JCK