Georgie Purcell’s image surfaced in a Nine News report following her criticism of the Victorian government’s denial of a ban on duck hunting.
Ms. Purcell noted how her attire had been manipulated when she shared the original and modified photos on social media.
Nine News issued an apology, citing “automation by Photoshop” as the cause.
As the newest member of the state legislature, Ms. Purcell has often denounced the “perpetual sexualization and objectification” that Australian women in politics experience.
The MP for the Animal Justice Party told the BBC that viewing the picture had made her worst day since being elected in 2022.
“It’s certainly confronting seeing your body altered on your TV in your own home,” she stated.
“What has happened to me in the past 24 hours is just something that would never, ever happen to a male politician.”
The public and other lawmakers have also expressed their indignation.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said: “That’s no way to represent any woman, let alone a woman who holds a position in public office.” Allan was controversially shown in a newspaper cartoon last year, partially nude.
Hugh Nailon, the head of Nine News Melbourne, has “unreservedly” apologized to Ms. Purcell for the “graphic error”.
“The image was adjusted to meet our specifications, which is standard procedure. Referring to a program that utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) to enlarge photographs, he said in a statement on Tuesday that “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.”
