Gemma Carey (Image: Allen & Unwin)

Liberal MP Andrew Laming, former attorney-general Christian Porter and journalist Peter van Onselen have issued concerns notices — the precursor to defamation action — against academic, writer and survivor Gemma Carey. 

Carey published a series of tweets after Porter was accused of rape, after van Onselen, a friend of Porter, wrote in his defence, and after Laming’s history of jocular misogyny and harassing women online resulted in him keeping his job. The tweets were absolutely on the nose. One expressed concern for the women in a photo alongside the three men. One of the women is van Onselen’s wife, Ainslie. It was especially in poor taste for the couple: van Onselen has never been accused of sexual misconduct. 

The tweets were soon taken down. Carey issued three separate apologies after receiving the notices.

She received the notices from rockstar lawyer Rebekah Giles’ firm (which has represented Porter, Brittany Higgins, businessman Mitchell Hooke and federal Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young). Leaving van Onselen out of it, the extreme response shows exactly how toxic patriarchy works: powerful male politicians have been quick to shut down discourse that puts them in a bad light.

Take a look at this list of men who have sued in recent history: there’s Peter Costello who sued over a speech implying he was like the emperor with no clothes; South Australian Labor politician Ralph Clarke who sued over allegations of domestic violence; Malcolm Turnbull who sued after being called “part polymath, part sociopath”; Bob Hawke who sued most news outlets over the years for millions. 

Even when faced with bullying, former MP Julia Banks, former senator Lucy Gichuhi and former cabinet member Julie Bishop did not launch defamation proceedings. Neither did former prime minister Julia Gillard who was called a “witch”, had her body mocked at a Liberal dinner, and experienced near-daily threats of violent abuse and rape.

There have been just two notable defamation cases launched by female politicians: ALP MP Emma Husar, who sued Buzzfeed over “slut-shaming” stories; Hanson-Young, who successfully sued former senator David Leyonhjelm for telling her to “stop shagging men”, along with Zoo Weekly magazine which superimposed her face on to that of a bikini model.

Neither of these cases were as trivial as being likened to an “emperor” who has so much power no one is brave enough to criticise them. Husar and Hanson-Young’s cases dealt with pervasive sexism from both the media and their colleagues. Hanson-Young called her triumph against Leyonhjelm a victory “for all our daughters”, addressing the toxic culture in Parliament.

Could it be women have thicker skin, picking their battles more wisely — or could it be that men fear protection from their fellow boys could unravel if one is undone? 

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is the leader of shutting down negative content, constantly harassing journalists over joke tweets and TV recaps and backgrounding journalists against Higgins’ partner after she went public with her allegation of rape. (To van Onselen’s credit, he exposed this brutal behaviour.) 

Lightning-lawsuit Laming sent out a slew of legal letters to politicians, journalists and media organisations following coverage of a woman alleging he took photos of her underwear while she stocked a fridge. Laming said the photo was a “humorous” depiction of a woman hard at work, and Queensland police later decided to take no action on the complaint. Laming later took leave to undergo empathy training after harassing two female constituents.

Porter launched a massive defamation case against the ABC for its coverage of the historic rape allegation (the case was settled; the judge suppressed the ABC’s defence). 

On Twitter van Onselen has said he had no idea his legal representative would send the concerns notice.

Porter and Laming are powerful and, as history has shown, well-protected. Carey is an expectant mother, lives with a disability, is a disability advocate and survivor of child sexual abuse. The difference in power dynamic is stark.

These men vouching for one another and launching joint defamation proceedings against anyone who says anything bad against them — however jovial — show how tight the old boys’ club is. Twisted and tied up in one another’s secrets, a tight-knit group so known to everyone on the inside, they may as well give their little club a name. The big swinging dicks club, perhaps?

This article was changed at 1 pm on Friday November 5 to reflect the fact the men mentioned had only issued concerns notices against Gemma Carey, not defamation proceedings.

Should powerful men suck up a bit of trivial or jovial criticism? Let us know your thoughts by writing to letters@crikey.com.au. Please include your full name if you would like to be considered for publication in Crikey’s Your Say column. We reserve the right to edit for length and clarity.