Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been copping a red hot bake on social media all throughout today, after announcing a decision to postpone the next sitting fortnight of Federal Parliament due to coronavirus fears.
This morning, Morrison issued a statement asserting that, after receiving advice from Acting Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly (editor’s note: not the Gravy Man, a different Paul Kelly) the sitting fortnight of Parliament that was scheduled to start on August 4th will be cancelled, with Parliament now not set to sit again until August 24th.
“The acting CMO has advised that there is significant risk associated with a meeting of Parliament in the context of the increased community transmission of COVID-19 in Victoria and the trends in New South Wales,” Morrison statement asserts. “I have written to the Speaker to request that the sitting fortnight commencing August 4th 2020 not be held. This would mean Parliament will next meet on August 24th 2020.”
Professor Kelly’s official advice on the matter asserted “The entry of a high-risk group of individuals could jeopardise the health situation in the ACT and place residents at unnecessary risk of infection. In addition, the health risk to Members and Senators and their staff from other jurisdictions is a material concern.”
Following that announcement, Morrison was almost immediately poleaxed on Twitter, with floods of punters hammering him with the “#JobShirker” hashtag, which was trending across Australia by the middle of the day.
Chiefly, the complaints revolve around the idea that Morrison saw fit to attend a football game last weekend, but can’t find a way to have Parliament sit during a pandemic crisis, even via remote or video conferencing means.
https://twitter.com/sirisgonerogue/status/1284259605350977537
A perfect hashtag for Morrison #JobShirker
Biggest #BludgerPM in Australian history
— 💧Bee🐝🐀 (@BelindaJones68) July 18, 2020
Every Politician who agrees with the postponement of Parliament in August will have NO right to ask any citizen of this country to work , train , volunteer during this pandemic
None!
Murdoch/morrison Government are cowards#boycottmurdoch #ScottyFromMarketing #JobShirker— Step and fetch (@FetchStep) July 18, 2020
It’s not safe to attend Parliament but it is safe to attend the footy. #jobshirker #auspol pic.twitter.com/YUoReVo6qP
— jansant (@Jansant) July 17, 2020
Hey, Scooter. I thought you were calling for all Australians to stop hiding under the doona and to get used to living alongside the virus. #JobShirker
— Mike Cullen (@MikeCullen73) July 18, 2020
A national crisis, over 400 cases of infection a day thanks to a failing national strategy of “living with COVID19”, double digit unemployment and no exit plan for any of it and the Parliament is cancelled? Really? @abcnews @7NewsAustralia @Politics_SMHAGE @9NewsAUS @InsidersABC https://t.co/JUjbpi33Ea
— Bill Bowtell AO (@billbowtell) July 17, 2020
#jobshirker I work from home why cant he ?- all part of the lying, double standards, laziness and condoning corrupt behaviour I cant stand about this Government – worst one in Australian history – they say a fish rots down from the head – and this Govt is as rotten as they come
— Peter 1959 (@Koalakid59) July 18, 2020
#Jobshirker is trending for a reason. Gobsmacking hypocrisy from #ScottyFromMarketing https://t.co/YylMM3BNx2
— Claire (@ClaireLouse2403) July 18, 2020
-Get out from the doona
-The app is a sunscreen
-Schools open up or no money
-Go Sharkies
-Discuss #COVID response with Trump
-An economic led recovery
-We have to learn to live along side the virusBut – no way is he going to work
#Jobshirker #auspol— Denise Shrivell @deniseshrivell@aus.social (@deniseshrivell) July 18, 2020
So who needs another holiday after working so hard again- oh, let me guess- the one who tells us it’s safe to get out from under the doona but wants to curl up under it again & not sit in parliament and DO HIS ACTUAL HIGH PAYING JOB!! #JobShirker
— GT (@gtgadabout) July 18, 2020
Well #ScottyFromMarketing is obviously on a winner with his new #jobshirker program where parliament stays on holiday while he advocates everyone else goes back to work. Another big score for Liberal hypocrisy. No one does it better. #AusPol
— Disquieted 😷 #VoteYes #MMT #UBI (@Strongisgentle) July 18, 2020
Here he is folks, i found this cunt hiding under his doona the #JobShirker ….. pic.twitter.com/3yJw6UDmHY
— normboy562💧🐀 (@normboy562) July 18, 2020
How long will Morrison get the #Jobshirker payment? Asking for All Australians who work in hospitals , hotels, supermarkets , schools, transportation, etc ets ?
— David 🎀 🌺 🎗💙💛💙💛Vote YES ! (@david89293299) July 18, 2020
It caps off a rather inglorious week for Morrison, who first promised Australians he wouldn’t be going on holiday “full-time” this week, and almost immediately followed that up by showing up in the stands at a Sharks game.
For a bloke so obsessed and single-bloody-minded about optics, it’s hard to see how he couldn’t possibly have seen all this coming.
