Liberal MP Angie Bell Faces Backlash Over "Shamed and Stoned" Comment

A racism and misogyny storm has erupted in Australia's federal parliament after Liberal MP Angie Bell told the House of Representatives that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Small Business Minister Anne Aly should be "shamed and stoned in the square." The comments were made during a debate regarding the Australian Taxation Office's now-delayed ban on credit card payments for tax bills.

Minister Anne Aly, Australia's first female Muslim federal MP, condemned Bell's remarks, stating they echoed language used in death threats she has received. "This past week alone, I've had 19 death threats on my social media," Aly said in a social media video. "And in the past, I've had death threats that are couched in that exact same language, 'stone her.'"

Aly argued that Bell's statement was not merely a parliamentary impropriety but also "racist" and "misogynistic," standing against Australian values and evoking the brutal methods used against women in some extremist regimes. She added, "We are a country that proudly stands against violence against women and against regimes that use brutal methods like stoning against women."

Bell's remark, directed at the government's handling of the ATO policy, was immediately ordered to be withdrawn by the Speaker. The policy, which would have prohibited credit card payments for tax bills from November, has since been postponed until June 2027.

Following the backlash, Bell acknowledged the comment was a "poor choice of words in the heat of the moment." She told the Gold Coast Bulletin, "My concerns about this government's treatment of small and family businesses remain and I will continue to stand up for the hardworking Australians who run the businesses that provide jobs and keep our economy moving."

Despite Bell's withdrawal and explanation, the incident has sparked significant criticism, with Labor figures highlighting the particular offensiveness of the phrase when directed at a Muslim woman MP, given the historical and contemporary use of stoning as a punishment in certain cultures.