Liberal MP Says Bettina Arndt Should Lose Order Of Australia Merit After Hannah Clarke Comments
Arndt was criticised for praising a police officer's comments that Hannah Clarke's murderer might have been "driven too far".
Earlier this week, following the murder of Hannah Clarke, Queensland police office Mark Thompson said that the crime would be investigated with an “open mind.”
This story contains discussion of domestic abuse.
Almost immediately, these comments received widespread criticism from domestic violence charities. Shortly afterwards, the police force issued an apology for the comments, claiming that they were a mistake.
One commentator who didn’t believe they were a mistake, however, was Bettina Arndt. Arndt, who was recently awarded the Order of Australia merit, and who is well-known for her ‘not all men’ rhetoric, took to Twitter to praise the Queensland police for “awaiting proper evidence, including the possibility” that Hannah Clarke’s murderer might “have been driven too far.”
Congratulations to the Queensland police for keeping an open mind and awaiting proper evidence, including the possibility that Rowan Baxter might have been “driven too far.” But note the misplaced outrage. How dare police deviate from the feminist script of seeking excuses…
— Bettina Arndt (@thebettinaarndt) February 20, 2020
…and explanations when women stab their partners to death, or drive their children into dams but immediately judging a man in these circumstances as simply representing the evil violence that is in all men. https://t.co/gCMCn1kma1
— Bettina Arndt (@thebettinaarndt) February 20, 2020
Arndt’s comments were widely and quickly decried, most notably by the ABC’s election analyst, Antony Green.
He incinerated his children alive. How can you possibly excuse that by being “driven too far”. I cannot think of a more inhuman act than incinerating someone alive. Do you not have any humanity?
— Antony Green (@AntonyGreenABC) February 20, 2020
But perhaps the strongest indictment of Arndt’s words came from Liberal MP Tim Smith, who argued that Arndt’s Australia Day honours should be rescinded.
Upon further reflection I think these comments are so grotesque that this woman must not be awarded an AM, which was announced on Australia Day. I hate saying that, but she must not be recognised in any way as an outstanding Australian. https://t.co/tub8RixMzL
— Tim Smith MP (@TimSmithMP) February 21, 2020
Arndt has not responded to Smith. In the days after her comments, she has continued to Tweet ‘not all men’ rhetoric.