Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm interrupted a Senate tribute to late sports journalist Rebecca Wilson to further attack her for her reports on Western Sydney Wanderers fans.
Senator Leyonhjelm, who has continued to defend his relentless attacks on the journalist within hours of the announcement of her death, asked to make a statement on the Labor motion acknowledging Ms Wilson’s contribution to her industry
He said that a story she wrote last year naming and shaming football fans caused material harm and was something nobody should be proud of, adding that “death does not absolve us of what we did when we were alive”.
The 54-year-old broadcast and print veteran, mum-of-two and wife died at home on Friday morning after a long and private battle with breast cancer.
The Senator, who interestingly is currently mourning the death of his cat Oliver, outraged and offended so many last week when within hours of Rebecca’s death he put this up on Twitter: “Doubt there’ll be many #WSW [Western Sydney Wanderers] fans at Rebecca Wilson’s funeral #innocentlivesdamaged.”
Evan as the fury grew, the Senator remained on the attack, tweeting that he was “just reporting the facts. What Wilson said she did”. He then retweeted a message claiming that Wilson “spread hate, ruined lives and just because she’s 6 ft under doesn’t make her a saint”.
The outcry over his “disrespectful” and “appalling” comments was huge with Victoria’s racing minister Martin Pakula called on Leyonhjelm to resign, while former Hawthorn player Daniel Harford labelled him a “scumbag”.
Interestingly, in the family’s statement announcing Rebecca’s death, they referred to the hate she had encountered in her career. “We are so proud that she was so fearless in her chosen role as a sports journalist. She brushed aside evil trolls, bullies and organised crime figures to prosecute her craft.”
Ina statement released over the weekend, the Senator remained without remorse: “Western Sydney Wanderers fans never forgot Wilson’s failure to check facts or shabby treatment… I do not expect them to attend her funeral. If you think that’s offensive, you need to get out more.”
Here is a photo of the Senator cuddling his now deceased cat, Oliver, who was put down last week aged only 7 – and who himself had become a bit of a media star on Leyonhjelm’s social media accounts.
PHOTO: Twitter
Please, no disrespectful comments about Oliver.
