Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has apologised to journalist Samantha Maiden after accidentally sending her a text message in which he referred to her as a 'mad f***ing witch'.
The Minister has apologised to the political editor for the Sunday Telegraph after she was mistakenly sent the message intended for MP Jamie Briggs.
The message was a response to Samantha Maiden's weekend column critical of Jamie Briggs, who stepped down as cities minister after acting inappropriately towards a colleague while on an overseas trip.
Journalist accepts apology
Samantha Maiden said she has accepted the Minister's apology and says there are more important issues to be considered.
"I think that there are probably more substantial issues involved here in relation to the disclosure of these photographs and texts involving confidential complainant that, of course, allege that Jamie Briggs behaved in a way that certainly made her feel uncomfortable in a Hong Kong bar," she told Channel 9.
"But look, I'm glad that Mr Dutton has my number, he's done all the right things, apart from sending me a text calling me a mad witch and I'm happy to leave the matter there."
Ms Maiden said Mr Dutton made the decision to own up, after she chose not to name him when appearing on Sunday television.
She hoped he doesn't end up in the backbench in light of the message mix-up.
"Mr Dutton is a good minister, he's a hard worker, he's made a strong contribution to the government," she said.
In a statement on Sunday evening Mr Dutton said he was expecting a tough time in the journalist's next column.
"Sam and I have exchanged some robust language over the years so we had a laugh after this and I apologised to her straight away, which she took in good faith," he said.
'He took quick action to avoid a witch-hunt'
Education Minister Simon Birmingham said the incident was "unfortunate", but Mr Dutton recognised his error and immediately contacted the journalist to apologise.
"(He) of course has come out and publicly acknowledged that it was him, to avoid there being a witch-hunt or blame being pointed in other directions," Mr Birmingham told ABC radio.
The Australian newspaper reported that Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull had privately described the message as "completely inappropriate".
Calls for Dutton's resignation
After the separate resignations of federal ministers Mal Brough and Jamie Briggs in the same day last week, Prime Minister Turnbull is facing calls to sack Immigration Minister Peter Dutton.
A number of social media users made their views clear using the hashtag DumpDutton.
Others on social media lamented the way the language and behaviour of politicians had fallen to such low standards.
Feminist online campaign group, Destroy the Joint said the language used by the senior federal minister is unacceptable.
Others criticised Minster Dutton's for being hypocritical with his condemnation in the past of sexism on White Ribbon Day and sexist comments directed at Labor MPs.
Sunday's text message is the latest gaffe by Minister Dutton, after he made a joke about rising sea levels in the Pacific.
The exchange last September with then prime minister Tony Abbott was recorded off-mic as the pair prepared for a press conference. Pacific Island leaders condemned the comments as vulgar.
Others social media users rallied in defence of Minister Dutton, saying the reaction has been overblown.
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