Australia Ambassador Caroline Kennedy accuses male reporter of talking over woman

Abigail Adcox

July 22, 08:31 AM July 22, 08:31 AM

U.S. Ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy accused a male reporter on Friday of speaking over a female reporter during a press conference.

Kennedy, daughter of former President John F. Kennedy, took a moment away from questions at Sydney International Airport to chastise the male reporter for talking over the woman.

85,000 TINS OF BABY FORMULA ARRIVE IN OHIO FROM AUSTRALIA

"Did you just talk over a woman?" Kennedy asked. The male reporter could be heard saying, "I did," to which Kennedy responded, "OK. Well, she started."

The reporter, who later identified himself as Hugh Riminton, took to Twitter to clear the record, saying that after reviewing the footage, it appears he had gotten two words in before the female reporter started asking her question.

"Press conferences— they're a game of centimetres sometimes," he tweeted.

Kennedy arrived in Australia on Friday to fill a post that has been vacant for 18 months, stressing the United States had a "big agenda" and wanted to engage more with the Pacific region.

"I think the U.S.-Australia partnership is really my focus and the work that we do together in the region, security, economic engagement, climate change, health, security, all those things. So, I think that China certainly has a big presence here in the region, but I think our partnership does as well," Kennedy said.

G3 Box News

Kennedy, who also served as ambassador to Japan under the Obama administration, spoke to the personal significance of the Pacific, nodding to her father's naval service during World War II.

"My family legacy is something I’m really proud of and I try to live up to, and I think the fact that it means something to people around the world makes me really proud and want to be worthy of it and do what I can to continue the values that my father would like," Kennedy added.