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Australian Politician Condemns News Outlet for Manipulating Her Image to Enhance Appearance Georgie Purcell, a member of Victoria’s state parliament, has recently been embroiled in controversy after an Australian news channel altered an image of her, augmenting her bust size and revealing more of her midsection. The modified image was featured in a Nine News segment following her criticism of the Victorian government’s stance on a proposed duck hunting ban.
Georgie Purcell Pushes Back Against Sexist Image Editing Georgie Purcell represents the Bendigo West electorate in the Victorian Legislative Assembly. Elected in 2022, she is currently serving her inaugural term in parliament. Purcell has emerged as a vocal advocate for animal rights and environmental causes, particularly those pertaining to duck hunting. At 31 years old, she stands as the youngest woman in Victoria’s parliament. Since her election, she has faced unwarranted sexist scrutiny.
The tattooed former stripper expressed that this newly manipulated image of her reignited a troubling conversation. Ms. Purcell promptly took to social media, sharing both the original and altered images and highlighting the manipulation of her attire.
“I endured a lot yesterday,” tweeted the young MP. “Having my body and outfit photoshopped by a media outlet was not on my bingo card. Note the enlarged bust and the outfit made more revealing. Can’t imagine this happening to a male MP. What gives?”
She pointed out that her bare midriff in the photoshopped image is devoid of tattoos. The young politician, whose arms are both adorned with tattoos, clarified that her stomach is also inked.
Online Outcry The incident sparked widespread outrage, with the news station facing backlash for its actions. Nine News later issued an apology, attributing the alteration to “automation by Photoshop.”
“I would like to sincerely apologize to Georgie Purcell for a graphic error that occurred in last night’s bulletin,” said Hugh Nailon, director of Nine News Melbourne, in a statement. “Our graphics department sourced an online image of Georgie to use in our story on duck hunting. As is common practice, the image was resized to fit our specs. During that process, the automation by Photoshop created an image that was not consistent with the original. This did not meet the high editorial standards we have, and for that, we apologize to Ms. Purcell unreservedly.”
However, Adobe Photoshop indicated that Photoshop alone can’t be entirely blamed. In a statement, a spokesperson for Adobe told the BBC: “Any changes to this image would have required human intervention and approval.”
Addressing Sexist Treatment of Women in Government As the youngest woman in the state’s parliament, Georgie Purcell has been a vocal advocate against the objectification and sexualization of women in Australian politics. She expressed her shock and disappointment at seeing her body altered on television in her own home, emphasizing that such a situation would never happen to a male politician.
The incident also drew condemnation from other politicians and members of the public. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, herself a victim of controversial depictions in the media, stated, “That’s no way to represent any woman, let alone a woman who holds a position in public office.”
While Georgie Purcell accepted the apology, she expressed skepticism about the explanation offered by Nine News. She raised concerns about the potential threat of artificial intelligence (AI) to women in public life and questioned why newsroom staff failed to notice the sexualization of her attire.
“This is not just some random person on the internet. This is an organization with a lot of staff and a lot of resources that frankly should know better.”
Restarting Sexist Rhetoric This incident has reignited a barrage of sexist abuse directed towards Ms. Purcell, who has previously spoken about working as a stripper to support herself through law school. Criticisms, including telling her to “get back on the pole,” have resurfaced, further highlighting the prevalence of sexism in Australian politics.
Georgie Purcell’s ordeal sheds light on the overarching issue of a deeply rooted and prevailing sexist culture in Australian politics. A landmark report conducted in 2021, in response to an alleged rape inside Australia’s Parliament House, revealed that a third of employees in federal parliament had experienced sexual harassment.
Georgie Purcell’s experience stands as a stark reminder of the hurdles women encounter in the political sphere. It underscores the pressing necessity for a society that is more inclusive, respectful, and gender-equal. Ms. Purcell’s boldness in denouncing the alteration of her image showcases her steadfast dedication to confronting sexism and championing the empowerment of women in Australian politics and beyond.
