MEMBER for Northern Victoria Georgie Purcell has defended Photoshopping her face onto an image of Jesus in her latest war against duck hunting.
The Animal Justice Party MP posted the graphic to her Facebook page earlier this week, with the text “Monday mantra: I will put the fear of God into duck shooters”.
She added, “Also God is a woman”.
A practising Catholic, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of retribution, objected to the image, saying it was “deeply offensive”.
“It was brought to my attention yesterday (when it was posted on Facebook and Instagram) by a family member celebrating Orthodox Easter.
“This timing makes it all the more insensitive and disgusting.
“While I do not have a great love of hunting I do believe this offensive and deliberately provocative image from a politician should not go unaddressed.”
The local resident added if this “blasphemous and deliberately inflammatory” image was used and promoted by a Liberal or Labor MP, “I am sure there would be a massive outcry already”.
“While she may be a minor-party MP, she should be held to the same standard as every other elected person.
“The Church should demand an apology and that the offensive image be removed.
“I hope the Catholic Church will take a strong stance in saying this deeply offensive behaviour will not be tolerated by a Member of Parliament.”
Ms Purcell, who has made headlines for all the wrong reasons lately, said they hadn’t seen the “full context”.
“I made it in response to duck shooters doing it to me first,” she told The Guardian.
“But no, I don’t find it offensive, and this is the first contact I’ve received about it.
“I’d love to see the same energy put into the real offensive behaviour on social media – such as the constant, persistent gendered abuse I receive from the same cohort of people.”
Channel Nine was forced to apologise earlier in the year to Ms Purcell for using a digitally altered imag, which it claimed was “inadvertently altered by Photoshop”.
Ms Purcell tweeted an image broadcast on Nine which showed her wearing a midriff-baring top as part of the network’s coverage of Victoria’s duck hunting issue.
Ms Purcell also posted the original image, which does not show her midriff.
“Note the enlarged boobs and outfit made to be more revealing,” she tweeted.
“What gives?”
Ms Purcell has also previously revealed the slew of disturbing taunts she’s been sent since entering politics and detailing her past as a stripper.
She was also recently banned from attending all wetlands after she was caught illegally trying to rescue ducks during the first weekend of the shooting season.
Police and authorised officers from the Game Management Authority last month nabbed Ms Purcell and veteran anti-duck-hunting campaigner Laurie Levy trying to retrieve wounded birds by using a motorboat on the Johnson Swamp wetlands in Kerang.
The Catholic Diocese of Ballarat, which oversees parishes in the Mallee, declined to comment.
