An ABC journalist has been “marched out” of the press gallery during Question Time at Parliament House because her outfit did not meet the dress code.
Patricia Karvelas, who is a presenter on ABC Radio National, expressed her shock and disappointment on Twitter after she was asked to leave the House of Representatives press gallery yesterday afternoon, and shared photos of her attire that was deemed inappropriate.
I have just been kicked out of #QT because you can allegedly see too much skin. His insane #Auspol pic.twitter.com/51KipESXlG
— PatriciaKarvelas (@PatsKarvelas) December 3, 2018
This is my controversial outfit #auspol pic.twitter.com/8Ve0ZTYEtl
— PatriciaKarvelas (@PatsKarvelas) December 3, 2018
In an interview on ABC News, Karvelas said she was approached and told by a Parliament House staffer that her pantsuit showed “too much shoulder”.
“Basically, I needed to cover up more. I needed a jacket,” Karvelas said.
“I did contest it. I said, “it’s not a singlet – it’s actually half a sleeve and I do think it’s in keeping with parliamentary standards.
“It’s a pretty professional pantsuit, to be honest – I quite like it.
“But she said that wasn’t appropriate and I had to leave, so I actually was marched out of Question Time.”
ABC’s @PatsKarvelas explains why she was frogmarched out of Question Time today #QT #auspol pic.twitter.com/CkFqRtI69I
— ABC News (@abcnews) December 3, 2018
While the standard of dress in the House of Representatives is a matter for the individual judgment of each member, the ultimate discretion rests with the speaker, according to the Australian Parliament House website.
