Channel Nine has apologised to Victorian MP Georgie Purcell after she accused the broadcaster of using a digitally altered image of her in its TV news bulletin.
Purcell, a member of the Animal Justice Party, said on Tuesday that Nine News had enlarged her breasts and made it appear as though she was wearing a crop top in a graphic used to introduce its story on the Victorian government rejecting calls for a ban on duck hunting.
"Note the enlarged boobs and outfit to be made more revealing," Purcell wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"Can’t imagine this happening to a male MP."
Hugh Nailon, director of Nine News Melbourne, apologised for what he said was a "graphic error".
"Our graphics department sourced an online image of Georgie to use in our story on duck hunting," Nailon said in a statement.
"As is common practice, the image was resized to fit our specs.
"During that process, the automation by Photoshop created an image that was not consistent with the original."
Nailon added this did not meet Nine News' "high editorial standards" and said it apologised to Purcell "unreservedly".
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said it was not an appropriate way to treat any woman, let alone a woman holding a position in public office.
"Let's think about the image that sends particularly to young women."
