What a day, huh? What a bloody day.
If there’s one thing that consistently proves true about Australian politics, it’s that it’s about as mucky as they come while still mostly operating inside a legal framework.
This time round it’s been the Barnaby Joyce v Malcolm Turnbull saga that has all turned us into messy bitches who love drama.
Following Turnbull’s comments about Barnaby’s affair with his now-pregnant staffer yesterday – in which he called it “a shocking error in judgement” and chastised him for not conducting himself “with integrity and respect” – the Nationals leader hit back in an extraordinary press conference.
“I have to say that in many instances [his comments] caused further harm. I believe they were in many instances inept, and most definitely in many instances unnecessary,” said Joyce.
He was preposterously angry, and also wore a rather large Akubra for no discernible reason.
It really was extremely big.
https://twitter.com/braddybb/status/964330278209536000
Commentators are calling it an all-out war between the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister.
As the ABC’s political editor Andrew Probyn says, “One way or another, Barnaby Joyce is cooked. The question is whether the rest of the Nationals let the Government get cooked with him.”
Well then. I never thought we’d see another open war after the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd years. Extraordinary.
— Sabra Lane (@SabraLane) February 16, 2018
I’ve been in the press gallery for over a decade and covered every leadership tussle in that time and I’ve never seen a press conference like that – the anger on show for all to see.
— Stephanie Peatling (@srpeatling) February 16, 2018
Barnaby says PM caused further harm. He was inept. We now have a full blown political crisis.
— Barrie Cassidy (@barriecassidy) February 16, 2018
It’s essentially catnip for politically-enthusiastic Australians with a Twitter account to talk about the D-R-A-M-A, especially as Turnbull was scheduled to give another press conference that afternoon.
https://twitter.com/LucyXIV/status/964330817169252352
It ended up a bit of a shit-show, with Turnbull saying he stood by his comments the day before and repeatedly, unsuccessfully, attempting to turn the conversation back to Launceston‘s estuaries (the reason for the conference in the first place).
But regardless, political nerds spent most of the day discussing the unfolding drama on Twitter. It’s really been quite the Friday, tbh.
First, let’s check in with former Greens Senator Scott Ludlam.
anything happen in australia while i’ve bn away?
— Scott Ludlam (@Scottludlam) February 16, 2018
Messy. bitch. who. loves. drama.
this never ages does it. pic.twitter.com/wRZyFBZMgE
— Scott Ludlam (@Scottludlam) February 16, 2018
And now, let’s check in with everybody else.
https://twitter.com/jonkudelka/status/964345533077667842
https://twitter.com/workmanalice/status/964329779007647744
Watching @SkyNewsAust and the dogs seem intent on giving a live performance of what’s happening in politics… pic.twitter.com/VLp2QanAhB
— melon husk (@marcuskelson) February 16, 2018
https://twitter.com/stephanieando/status/964298046048628737
exclusive vision of the Liberals and Nationals squaring off right now: pic.twitter.com/QsRHW499jn
— Josh Butler (@JoshButler) February 16, 2018
when it’s so bad even the young liberal meme page gives up pic.twitter.com/pPSTjczjTL
— Naaman Zhou (@naamanzhou) February 16, 2018
— dunking dad (@dunkingdad) February 16, 2018
sounds about right pic.twitter.com/vhYZMx8bKZ
— Alex Bruce-Smith (@alexbrucesmith) February 16, 2018
https://twitter.com/AtticusThomas/status/964293138801045505
me rn #auspol pic.twitter.com/rBINuKkKzF
— Jo Lauder (@jolauder) February 16, 2018
https://twitter.com/SquigglyRick/status/964335872295317504
https://twitter.com/jrhennessy/status/964321131317493761
FUCK YEAH TURNBULL AND JOYCE 2018 pic.twitter.com/NMjH1kFqr7
— Nadine J. Cohen (@nadinevoncohen) February 16, 2018
https://twitter.com/braddybb/status/964330278209536000
I will not be lectured about ineptness by this man.
— Possum Comitatus (@Pollytics) February 16, 2018
https://twitter.com/oz_f/status/964322253478375424
Turnbull and Joyce previously referred to themselves as Thelma and Louise.
It’s now the final scene.#auspolbarnaby #auspol pic.twitter.com/MxFHFRUdmA— 👀 A Head with Two Eyes (@TwoEyeHead) February 16, 2018
https://twitter.com/bortofdarkness/status/964298397485322242
What a day. What a week. Who the fuck needs reality television when you can head on over to ABC 24 for affairs, scandals, and red-faced politicians calling press conferences to have an almighty whinge.
Happy Friday, everybody!
