 |
| Barnaby in full throttle in Australian House of Representatives Image: AIMN Network |
News.com.au, 1 April 2019:
Barnaby
Joyce has been forced to issue a grovelling apology to Channel 7 staff who
copped his wrath during an expletive-laden backstage tantrum.
It
has been revealed the former deputy prime minister was in a foul mood on the
night of the New South Wales election, during which he sat on the network’s
broadcast panel.
Viewers
criticised his aggressive attitude on screen, including his treatment of a female
Labor senator, but it paled in comparison to his antics in the green room.
The Australian newspaper today reports Mr Joyce has apologised for
his “behaviour and demeanour” off screen after details were leaked by insiders.
It’s
understood the former leader of the National Party — who resigned his position
last year after it was revealed his mistress and staffer Vicki Campion was
pregnant with his child — was furious about how brief his appearance was
scheduled to be.
“There
were four-letter words aplenty when Joyce first arrived on set and saw his
schedule for the night,” The Australian reported.
An
unnamed insider told the newspaper: “He had the sh*ts supreme about whether he
should even be there.”
A
network source told news.com.au word of Mr Joyce’s behaviour had begun to
spread last week, and it was only a matter of time before it leaked.
The
firebrand politician’s beef was that he was due to appear on screen for just 10
minutes, despite having flown from his home in Armidale.
He
was accompanied by his partner, Ms Campion — he broke off his marriage just
prior to the scandal erupting — and their toddler.
“I
saw the schedule on the (green room) wall,” Mr Joyce told the newspaper. “Then
I saw the closest human being, and I told them what I thought.”
He
apologised for his conduct and said he was tired. After the tantrum, Mr Joyce
was used for the live coverage broadcast for more than two hours.
On
election night, he was criticised by viewers for his rude treatment of
Labor Senator Jenny McAllister, including talking over her.
“I
am surprised that you’d not put water on the list of concerns,” Ms McAllister
said about the National Party’s poor electoral performance in the state’s west.
“You’ve
got these western NSW seats with massive fish kill and a very active
conversation …” she continued before being cut off.
“That
was because of the Greens … you can’t take water to the south, not have it come
to the north and not expect something to die in the middle. It’s the bleeding
obvious,” Mr Joyce said as his fellow panellist tried to get her point across.
“I
think the proposition that’s been put is that there’s been complete
mismanagement of the water system”, she said, before being again interrupted.
“May
I finish my remarks?” Senator McAllister said — a comment met by a shrug from
Mr Joyce.
She
did continue, barely finishing her sentence before Mr Joyce had his say.
“Finished?
You’re wrong,” he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment