Hours after it was reported that sports journalist and broadcaster Rebecca Wilson had lost her long battle with breast cancer at just 54, Senator David Leyonhjlem put this up on Twitter:
Doubt there’ll be many #WSW (Western Sydney Wanderers) fans at Rebecca Wilson’s funeral #innocentlivesdamaged.’
It was a reference to Rebecca outing fans allegedly on Football Federation Australia’s banned list – and yes, a lot were Wanderers fans – but this tweet has left Australians shocked and angry at such disrespect.
Liberal Democrat Senator David Leyonhjlem PHOTO:Facebook
And 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”.
Not surprisingly there is a chorus calling for his immediate resignation. Resign from the Senate @DavidLeyonhjelm.” Said Victorian state Attorney-General Martin Pakula.
Others were more scathing, using terms like “ “screeching maggot” and “grub”.
Fairfax journalist Kate MyClymont summed it succinctly: “Shame on you, Senator… You mightn’t have agreed with Rebecca Wilson but with her death so fresh show some human decency.”
Rebecca Wilson died overnight after a long and very private battle with breast cancer. Her husband John Hartigan and her two sons Tom and Will posted a statement. And in this they mentioned how she has had to deal with trolls and haters during 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.”
Even in death, she is still having to deal with this. RIP, Rebecca WiIson.
