The Winners Of The Ernie Awards For Sexist Behaviour Won't Shock You At All

    Sexism's night of nights.

    Football Federation Australia has won the "Gold Ernie" award - handed out each year for Australia's most sexist behaviour - for its ongoing pay dispute with Australia's female stars.

    The Ernie Awards have been running since 1993, and each year highlight the most sexist behaviour from leaders in politics, media and industry.

    Founded by feminist author and former politician Dr Meredith Burgmann, the awards are named after former union boss Ernie Ecob, who once reportedly claimed that women only wanted to be shearers for the sex.

    The FFA took out this year's top award for paying Australia's women's team, the Matildas, only $21,000 a year and for refusing to pay them maternity leave.

    As the pay dispute continues, the Matildas have effectively gone on strike, refusing to train for an upcoming tour of the U.S.

    In a statement earlier this month, the Matildas said the FFA has "failed to recognise the significant sacrifices the Matildas players are forced to make in playing for their country."

    But the FFA wasn't the only winner on the night.

    Political Ernie winner: Former prime minister Tony Abbott.

    Mr Abbott has been a frequent Ernie winner, and this year took out silver for his efforts as minister for women.

    Earlier this year when asked for his greatest achievement as minister for women, the then-PM nominated the scrapping of the carbon tax, because women are heavily affected by household bills.

    But don't think that Abbott's departure from the top job will mean the Ernies have nowhere to go.

    "I don't think the change of leadership will alter things in the sexism stakes. Politicians just can't help themselves and Malcolm [Turnbull's] condescending style is intensely irritating to women he is admonishing," says Ernies founder Dr Meredith Burgmann.

    "He is also very fond of using the deeply sexist expression 'man up' when he means show some strength."

    Media Ernie winner: The Australian

    Australia's national broadsheet took out the media award for its efforts eulogising celebrated Australian author Colleen McCullough.

    The paper opened its obituary for McCullough by describing her as "plain of feature and certainly over-weight..."

    The Fred: Fred Nile

    Controversial NSW MP reverend Fred Nile won the award that was named after him for describing childcare centres as "day orphanages."

    A school principal also took out this award in a dead heat for "reportedly banning female students from participating in running events because it may cause them to lose their virginity."

    The 'Elaine' for remarks least helpful to the sisterhood: Miranda Devine

    The conservative News Corp columnist wins for saying, "feminism is now well past its use-by date. It has just become an excuse for unhinged individuals with Daddy issues to indulge a mean streak."

    Repeat offenders: Mark Latham and Tony Abbott

    Former Labor leader Mark Latham won for his many columns criticising modern feminism, while the former PM won for his aforementioned comments.

    Other winners included the Soho Nightclub (Industrial Ernie), for advertising which appeared to show a young woman, passed out "with her legs slightly spread and her fingers gesturing a peace sign."

    The judicial Ernie was awarded to Detective Inspector Michael Hughes, who, speaking after a murder, said while the attack was "chilling", women needed to take precautions not to be randomly attacked including never being in a public park by themselves.

    He later clarified, telling women they "need to be aware of their circumstances."

    Finally, The Good Ernie: Luke Ablett

    The former Sydney Swans star wins for his widely applauded column What the fuck, Australia? Another man killing yet another woman.

    "Another woman killed by a man and we are talking about why women shouldn't walk in parks. What is wrong Australia?", he wrote.

    "Why aren't we talking about this as the national emergency that it most certainly is? Why the hell aren't we talking about the violence against women epidemic that we currently find ourselves in? Is it because female deaths don't matter as much as men's?"

    You can read more about the Ernies here.