Who does Alan Jones think he is to speak to the Prime Minister like that?

I was completely appalled to hear how a well known radio personality in Sydney spoke to the Prime Minister of Australia on air.  The details are outlined well by Barrie Cassidy on The Drum in Liar, liar, shock jocks on fire; and you can listen to the entire interview here.

This radio shock jock berated the Prime Minister of this country on air for arriving late for a media interview. Further he called her by her first name throughout the interview.  He called her a liar to her face.

I've heard him interview Prime Ministers of Australia before.  He referred to them civilly to their face and called them Mr so-and-so, or addressed them as Prime Minister.  But now, when confronted with a woman Prime Minister, he seems to think he can disrespect her and her office.

I've got no problem with people having an opinion that is different to mine or to anyone else's.  And that shock jock has as much right to his opinion as anyone. But what he did to our Prime Minister went beyond the pale. Agree with Julia Gillard and her politics or not, as Prime Minister she deserves to be treated with the same respect as every other Prime Minister that went before.

I can only hypothesise that misogyny drove his behaviour, misogyny coupled with a deep hatred of non-conservative politicians.  When confronted with a woman holding that office he seems to have felt that it was acceptable to berate and speak so un-civilly; and to do so in ways he's never done with a male office-holder.

It reminds me of the continuing misogyny that exists in Australia.  It reminds me that women are still not considered equal to men, even if they are the Prime Minister of the country.  It makes me sigh. It makes me sad.  It makes me wonder how we can change things.