A prominent ABC host said that Barnaby Joyce used a “effeminate voice” in a speech in which he criticised Anthony Albanese for his intention to become the first sitting prime minister to march at Mardi Gras.
At last week’s session of Parliament, Mr. Joyce criticized Mr. Albanese’s priorities, citing the Labor leader’s attendance at the Woodford Folk Festival and the Australian Open tennis tournament, as well as his announcement that he would be present at the LGBTI pride march.
Nevertheless, according to Mr. Joyce, Mr. Albanese only spent a few hours in lawless Alice Springs early this year.
Ms. Karvelas addressed Mr. Joyce in a tense interview on Radio National on Monday, stating, ‘You spent most of Question Time last week heckling the Prime Minister over this.
I’ve been told by multiple individuals that you imitated a feminine voice and made fun of what he would be wearing.
But, Mr. Joyce vehemently denied putting on such a voice and alleged that the Prime Minister’s office was manipulating the senior journalist.
No, I do not believe I used a feminine voice. Joyce remarked, “It’s wonderful that you’re aware of the Prime Minister’s rhetoric.”
I am not shocked that the Prime Minister’s office and ABC are cooperating.
Karvelas demanded that he provide an explanation during the address.
Joyce stated, “I asked Mr. Albanese why he was attending Mardi Gras. Why are you attending tennis? Why do you spend so little time in Alice Springs?
She inquired, “Did you ask him what he wore to Mardi Gras?”
No, I made a comment about his attire at the Woodford Folk Festival.
Karvelas questioned why he “zeroed in” on this occasion and whether he had a problem with Prime Ministers walking during Mardi Gras.
“No, knock yourself out,” the speaker replied.
I suggested him attending the (Australian Open) tennis tournament in Woodford. I am concentrating on the residents of Alice Springs. Children, women, and people whose homes are being burglarized.
In his parliamentary statement on Monday, Joyce accused the Prime Minister of merely “ticking a box” by visiting Alice Springs for four hours in order to claim he had been there.
I saw him at Woodford one year wearing a black T-shirt, then more recently wearing a white T-shirt with black pants… I consider how fortunate we are that he is so cool.
He also spends days playing tennis; he certainly has a passion for the sport.
Now I hear that our Prime Minister will attend Mardi Gras. That is really fortunate, isn’t it? This dude is very cool! He is 60 almost 16’
I am aware that he spent barely four hours in Alice Springs.
The town in central Australia is experiencing a crime wave, with businesses being broken into daily and a recent community gathering to address the issue attracting 3,000 people.
In just one year, there were 2,823 attacks reported in a neighborhood of 26,000, a 51 percent increase.
Domestic violence incidences have increased by 65%, while alcohol-related attacks have increased by 68%.
The assault rate in Alice Springs is five times that of the capital of the Northern Territory, Darwin.
Mr. Albanese will be the first sitting prime minister to march in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras on Saturday. This is one of the largest Pride events promoting LGBTQI rights in the globe.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, the first openly lesbian member of the Australian Parliament, will accompany him.
He stated, “We talk a lot about tolerance, and tolerance is very essential, but this step is much more significant than tolerance.”
We must appreciate our diversity, not just tolerate it, because it is the source of our society’s vitality.
What Barnaby Joyce stated in the House
Barnaby Joyce: “Today I rise to remark how fortunate we are to have such a cool prime minister.” I’ve been considering how fortunate we are. I observed him at Woodford one year wearing a black T-shirt, and more recently, a white T-shirt, black pants, and a cap. There is no problem with wearing a hat! I consider how fortunate we are that he is so cool. He also participates in tennis. We are incredibly fortunate to see him there, mingling with the elite, and we wish him the best of luck. We’re quite fortunate to have a prime leader who can travel to Woodford and also spend days at the tennis; he clearly has a passion for the sport.
Now I hear that our Prime Minister will attend Mardi Gras. That is really fortunate, isn’t it? This dude is very cool! He is 60 almost 16 We’re incredibly fortunate. It is none of my business how long he will spend at Mardi Gras, but I do know that he only spent four hours in Alice Springs. There are a number of significant problems in Alice Springs, and they persist. If it’s not Alice Springs, it’s Garbutt, Townsville, Cairns, Moree, or Dubbo—there are so many remote cities where law and order are of essential importance. I’m wondering if the Prime Minister may want to return to Alice Springs and perhaps visit a few other cities in order to learn more about this agenda, as it is crucial for those dealing with crime and law and order issues in these outlying places.
There was a second location where I did not see him. I looked for him, but I did not see him on Australia Day. He did not appear to attend any Australia Day celebrations. Evidently, they are not cool enough! Many residents of my electorate are extremely proud of Australia Day. Australia Day is a special occasion. We recognize the work, particularly the civil sacrifice — not the military sacrifice, but the civil sacrifice — of so many individuals who have contributed so much to this nation. We acknowledge that Australia is a nation established primarily on our magnificent Indigenous heritage, but also on the legacy of people who began as a prison colony, not as an invading force. We’ve performed so wonderfully.
‘But now we move forward, and apparently the Prime Minister of Woodford, the Prime Minister of tennis, and the Prime Minister of Mardi Gras wants to introduce a constitutional amendment that will have enormous repercussions for how this nation operates in the future, how the operating manual of our country functions. Real questions have been made again about why we would discriminate against people and their access to this wonderful democratic document, why we would discriminate on the basis of their DNA as to whether or not they have access.
Presently, the world is experiencing extremely precarious circumstances. Now, we learned that a fourth balloon had been shot down over North America, this time over Alaska, twice over Canada, and South Carolina. I do not know if this situation requires someone who is hip or someone who is entirely and completely focused on the task at hand. Those at Woodford, the tennis courts, or Mardi Gras would likely feel more secure if they knew that someone is devoted solely to the defense of the nation—
President of the House: ‘Order! I would want to remind the member of standing rule 90, about pondering on a member’s reasons. I return him to his speech.
Mr. Joyce: “I believe it would be prudent for our nation to reflect on the current circumstances. It is really disheartening to get on the television tonight and learn that another balloon has been shot down over the Great Lakes. It is our responsibility to ensure that our nation becomes as strong as possible as rapidly as feasible. It is not the time to flirt with peripheral concerns, which may be significant but are not core to what our nation requires to preserve itself in the future of what is becoming a more fragile world. I hope that as we move forward, we will prioritize making power as inexpensive as feasible as rapidly as possible. I hope we have a more sober and informed perspective on nuclear power. And I hope that, while visiting Mardi Gras, the Prime Minister will ponder on other matters of national importance.’
based on Hansard
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