Williamstown Literary Festival panellist Helen Razer “really couldn’t give a toss” about Tony Abbott’s infamous wink.
The acerbic-tongued author says her interest is in policy, not people.
Similarly, the subject of “Saint Julia” Gillard as a “martyr for all women” will probably be dispensed with in five minutes, Razer says of her coming role on the panel.
Razer will discuss the book Bewitched and Bedevilled: Women Write the Gillard Years with fellow contributors Eva Cox and Shakira Hussein and editor Samantha Trenoweth.
Razer argues Ms Gillard’s downfall was not due to sexism and says the former PM overplayed the gender card.
“Her stupid ‘blue ties’ and ‘feisty woman’ comments brought a broad public attention to her gender,” Razer says.
“Honestly, I think the electorate might have ignored the fact of her gender if it hadn’t been so tediously brought to our attention.”
Razer says the objectification of Ms Gillard, including reference to her “huge thighs” on a Liberal National Party fund-raising dinner menu, is an example of idiocy rather than sexism.
“You know, it wasn’t a public article. It was something devised by supporters of the then-opposition. Some people are just idiots.”
Personally, Razer thinks Ms Gillard was a “decent” prime minister.
“But between Anne Summers’ irrational claims that she was subject to harassment by the Right that exceeded that of any previous Labor PM – do a search for Larry Pickering’s caricatures of Hawke, they’re just as offensive – and [Gillard media adviser John] McTernan’s gender-focused campaign, I think she was made less decent,” she says.
The Bewitched and Bedevilled panel discussion will be from 1.30-2.30pm on Saturday, May 31, in the Williamstown library auditorium. The cost is $30, or $27 concession.
Running from Friday to Sunday, the festival’s main venues are the Williamstown Town Hall and library.
More than 80 authors will appear, including Graeme Simsion, whose debut novel, The Rosie Project, was named the Australian Book Industry’s Book of the Year last week.
Festival-goers can vote for their favourite aspiring writer or poet in the people’s choice awards, while winners of the annual Ada Cambridge Award for Poetry and Prose will be announced on Saturday morning.
For the full festival program, visit willylitfest.org.au or phone 9932 4074.
