Businesswoman blasts Annastacia Palaszczuk for ‘sexist’ comments

Annastacia Palaszczuk has been accused of ‘putting women back 100 years’ after describing two male MPs meeting three businesswomen in parliament as a ‘late night rendezvous’. 

LNP members John-Paul Langbroek and Sam O’Connor gave a group of their constituents a tour of the Queensland Parliament on Wednesday evening.

Mr Langbroek shared photos of the visit on Instagram with the caption: ‘When the #TheFabulousGoldie girls come to @queenslandparliament #LocalMPs’.

One image showed the women – Tamika Smith, Brooke Henley-Smith and Lauren Duitsch – posing with Mr Langbroek in front of the Speaker’s chair, which is customary in Queensland.

Left to right: Tamika Smith, Brooke Henley-Smith and Lauren Duitsch pose with MP John-Paul Langbroek in front of the Speaker’s chair in the Queensland Parliament

But the women have been left furious after Premier Palaszczuk appeared to mock the visit on Thursday, telling parliament: ‘I enjoyed looking at the member’s photos he posted this morning of his little late-night rendezvous… on the Speaker’s chair’. 

The French word rendezvous literally means appointment but has sultry connotations when used in English.

Ms Smith had been invited to parliament to hear her MP Mr O’Connor make a speech about the positive impact of her house-building company MyBellaCasa on Queenslanders escaping domestic violence.

She is an advocate for women in construction and won the Gold Coast Bulletin’s Women of the Year ‘Entrepreneurs’ award in 2021. 

Real-estate agent Ms Henley Smith, who had posed alongside her, blasted the premier, saying: ‘You push women back 100 years with your snide remarks which I am appalled at.’

Sam O’Connor takes a selfie with Tamika Smith, Brooke Henley-smith, Lauren Duitsch and Mr Langbroek in front of the Speaker’s Chair

Ms Smith (pictured) had been invited to parliament to hear her MP Mr O’Connor make a speech about the positive impact of her house-building company MyBellaCasa on Queenslanders escaping domestic violence

David Sharaz, the partner of former federal Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins, also made a disparaging commented about the visit, sharing Mr Langbroek’s photo on Twitter with the caption: ‘In Queensland this is how the LNP uses the Parliament after hours during sitting weeks’.

He later claimed his comment ‘has nothing to do with the women in the photograph’ but he was merely highlighting ‘how the chamber and Queensland Parliament is used after hours’, adding: ‘This shouldn’t be happening’.

Mr O’Connor replied with a series of pictures of former visits by a range of guests to show that posing for pictures on the Speaker’s chair is normal in Queensland. 

In Parliament Mr Langbroek savaged Ms Palaszczuk over her comment, saying: ‘It was outrageous stereotyping of the premier this morning, suggesting I was having, and I quote her, ”a late night rendezvous” with regard to my Gold Coast guests.

‘These couples had purchased a dinner with me at a charity function which I was pleased to support.

‘Imagine the outcry if I were to make any similar comments about the premier having a ”late night rendezvous” or intimated anything about her appearance.

‘Her judgmental, sexist comments about females in social media comments were completely inappropriate and unbecoming.’ 

Mr Langbroek shared this photo with his constituents on social media

Amanda Camm, Shadow Minister for the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence, also demanded an apology. 

She told parliament: ‘On behalf of Tamkika, of Brooke, of Lauren – amazing young women in our community – on behalf of all women… the premier needs to apologise.

‘The imputation of a late night rendezvous is unacceptable and unacceptable by the woman who holds the highest office in this state.’ 

A spokesperson for the Premier’s office said: ‘The Premier’s comments were about the lack of respect for the Speaker’s chair by a Member of Parliament.

‘The Premier did not mean any offence and is astonished anyone would interpret what she said as referring to anything other than respect for the Chamber.

‘The comments were made in Question Time.

‘The Premier withdrew her comments when a Member raised concerns.’

A spokesperson for the Premier’s office said: ‘The Premier did not mean any offence’. Pictured: Annastacia Palaszczuk with Anthony Albanese