An Australian Senator has been awarded NZ$126,711 after suing a former member of the senate for calling her a misandrist, another word for a man-hater.
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, told the press the victory was for women who had been 'made to stay silent'.
Hanson-Young, of the Greens party, filed the defamation lawsuit against David Leyonhjelm in 2018 after he reportedly yelled at her to 'stop shagging men' during a discussion about relaxing importation restrictions on pepper spray for women.
She alleged Leyonhjelm defamed her by refusing to issue an apology and continued to give interviews claiming the Greens senator believed all men are rapists.
Leyonhjelm told local media in 2018, he did not agree with Senator Hanson-Young's sentiments about all men being rapists, he believed he had the right to voice his opinion.
However, on Monday federal court judge, justice Richard White ruled against Leyonhjelm.
Hanson-Young gave a tearful statement to the media on Monday.
"I'm glad it's over, this is a really important decision, what the judge has found is that Mr Leyonhjelm was motivated by malice.
That he wanted to publicly shame me," she said in a statement.
She told The Project Australia, she wants to make sure every woman and girl knows, you have a right to be treated with respect.
Hanson-Young said the damages would be donated to two women's charities, Plan International Working Women's Centre and the South Australian Working Women’s Centre.
The pair are set to return to court on December 17.
