An Australian news channel is facing a backlash for broadcasting an altered image of a Victorian MP with enlarged breasts and exposed midriff.
The doctored images were aired on the Nine News bulletin on Monday night after upper house MP Georgie Purcell criticised the government’s decision to reject a ban on duck hunting.
Ms Purcell, who is the youngest woman in the state's parliament, posted the edited images alongside the original on social media platform X.
The Animal Justice Party member wrote: “I endured a lot yesterday. But having my body and outfit photoshopped by a media outlet was not on my bingo card. Note the enlarged boobs and outfit to be made more revealing. Can’t imagine this happening to a male MP. What gives.”
Nine News apologised and blamed the doctored image on “automation by Photoshop”. The programme news director, Hugh Nailon, said in a statement: “Our graphics department sourced an online image of Georgie to use in our story on duck hunting.
“As is common practice, the image was resized to fit our specs. During that process, the automation by Photoshop created an image that was not consistent with the original. This did not meet the high editorial standards we have and for that we apologise to Ms Purcell unreservedly.”
However, Adobe, the creator of Photoshop, dismissed the claim, saying any changes of its generative AI features would require "human intervention".
A spokesperson said: "Any changes to this image would have required human intervention and approval."
Ms Purcell said the “sexist editing” was an example of the discrimination faced by women in politics.
She told the Guardian: “Let’s be clear – this is not something that happens to my male colleagues. The message this sends to young women and girls across Victoria is that even at the top of your field, your body is always up for grabs.”
Victorian premier Jacinta Allan, who appeared unedited in the graphic alongside Purcell, said she was concerned about the way female politicians were represented.
She told reporters: "That’s no way to represent any woman, let alone a woman who holds a position in public office represents a community and is in the public discourse every single day. It’s important to call it out, to identify, to do better and to understand that we have come a long way, but we’ve still got a way to go.”
