Women of the ACT government have called out a Canberra radio host over "disrespectful" comments towards the March 4 Justice and ACT Labor Minister Tara Cheyne.
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Ms Cheyne shared her view on 2CC's afternoon program on Monday that Prime Minister Scott Morrison should have fronted the protest instead of offering a private meeting with the organisers.
Breakfast presenter Stephen Cenatiempo said on Tuesday the organisers should have preferred the private meeting over the Prime Minister fronting "a bunch of people ranting".
"You're not taking it seriously if you don't take the opportunity to sit down with the leader of the country and express your concerns. Tara Cheyne needs to pull her head in," Mr Cenatiempo said.
In a letter to 2CC general manager Michael Jones, the female Labor and Greens MLAs expressed disappointment over Mr Cenatiempo's comments the March 4 Justice was "a bunch of people ranting".
"Women are simply asking to be heard, believed and respected. Words matter, and the statement from Mr Cenatiempo utterly diminishes women's experiences at a time when men should be listening," the letter said.
"To follow this by telling a woman leader in the Canberra community that she should not express her view, after your afternoon program invited her on to hear her perspective ... was appalling, part of the problem, and reflected a serious lack of judgement."
Ms Cheyne said the comments were tone deaf and baffling.
"I would urge him to reflect on what has been said this week and these past five weeks," she said.
"It's not just about me but it's about how the march itself was characterised. Women should be able to express their views."
Mr Jones said Mr Cenatiempo thought Ms Cheyne was being opportunistic and trying to score political points by saying Mr Morrison should have fronted the crowd.
"Stephen's not against the march. 2CC is not against the march," Mr Jones said.
"We're horrified of the allegations that have come out. No opinion was expressed that the march wasn't a worthwhile thing to do."
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Mr Jones said the comments had been blown up out of context on Twitter.
"I don't think anybody's actually sat down an listened to what they said," he said.
"It's talkback radio and people are free to express opinions."
The ACT government women's caucus acknowledged in its letter the comments did not breach the commercial radio code of practice.
The letter said it was "beneath community expectations and modelled poor behaviour".
Ms Cheyne said she had received many messages of support after sharing the letter on social media.
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