Last Sunday, Minister for Immigration Peter Dutton mistakenly sent journalist Samantha Maiden a text message calling her a "Mad Fucking Witch". The text was meant for Jamie Briggs, the Minister who recently resigned over inappropriate behaviour towards a young woman in his Department.

While Samantha may not be able to complain about this appalling text for her own reasons, we the people of Australia find it abhorrent that a Minister of our country can get away with such sexist, boorish and unprofessional behaviour.

We do not object to the word "witch" in itself, as witches are civilised and honourable people. Rather, we object to it's use in this instance as a pointed, gender-based slur meant to demean Samantha Maiden as a woman, particularly in conjunction with the other words used.

We believe this behaviour is part of the broader issue of misogyny and violence against women in Australia. In 2015 more than 75 women in Australia were murdered by men, and it is well known that sexist behaviour towards women fuels misogynist and violent action against them. We believe Australia will never reduce or eliminate violence against women until such behaviour is strongly condemned at all levels of society but particularly amongst its elected representatives.

We insist that Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull remove Peter Dutton from his portfolio as soon as possible, as together with Jamie Briggs he is not a fit and proper person to hold such a position of influence and responsibility.

Malcolm Turnbull has consistently said he cares about the treatment of women in Australia. Last year he said: "Violence against women is one of the great shames of Australia. It is a national disgrace."

If he is serious about these words, he must act on the denigration of women occurring amongst and between his own Ministers. Today.