The Ernies Book: 1000 terrible things Australian men have said about women

In 1993 a small group of women gathered to celebrate the retirement of the original Ernie, a notoriously sexist trade union official who claimed that the only reason women wanted to become shearers was for the sex. The event grew to become the Annual Ernie Awards, the world’s premier event shaming men for outrageous sexism.

Fifteen years of Australian male chauvinist piggery is faithfully chronicled here with name, rank and serial number - from John Laws to John Howard, from David Oldfield to David Hookes, from Pat Cash to Paddy McGuinness and Australia’s former favourite son-in-law, Tom Cruise. Chefs, archbishops, judges, footballers, shock jocks and politicians are all in our sights.

I never turned away from Cathy. No matter how fat she was. -Nick Bideau, Cathy Freeman’s ex-coach and ex-partner

I bet she’s now sorry she burnt her bra all those years ago (on Germaine Greer at 63).

-Ray Hadley, broadcaster

What do you think you’re looking at, sugar tits? -Mel Gibson, actor

With a nod to the good guys such as Don Bradman and Russell Crowe (really!), The Ernies Book is unashamedly wicked. If it weren’t so funny, you’d have to cry.

For all these years Meredith Burgmann and Yvette Andrews ran the Ernie Awards. They are now running for their lives.