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03-02-2021
Bureau Report
CANBERRA/ MELBOURNE: It had all the elements of children’s’ theatre: A hero, a villain and a good deal of pantomime.
Liberal MP Craig Kelly, castigated by medical experts, described as a “menace” by the opposition and apparently dressed down by the Prime Minister, played the part of the villain.
Labor’s Tanya Plibersek, who backs the advice of the Prime Minister and medical experts on the most serious health challenge in a century, was cast as the heroine (at least in the eyes of Labor’s rank and file, many of whom see her as the next Labor leader).
It all took place on a stage of sorts, in this case the corridors of Parliament’s press gallery.
Having just finished an interview on breakfast TV, Ms Plibersek stepped out of the Sky News office directly up to the microphone that had been set up for other media cameras camped out in the corridor.
She soon let rip about the “conspiracy theories” espoused by Craig Kelly, who has endorsed the use of unproven drugs to treat coronavirus while urging caution about the vaccines being approved as safe and effective by medical authorities around the world.
As she spoke, a rolling kerfuffle started barrelling toward her from behind.
Emerging from the flash of camera bulbs, strode the “nong” in question.
“He needs to shut up. And if the Prime Minister had any spine he would tell him to do so,” insisted Ms Plibersek, apparently unaware of what was going on behind her.
As several members of the press gallery pointed to what was about to happen, they may as well have been shouting “He’s behind you! He’s behind you!”.
Sensing a “made for TV” moment, Kelly marched straight past the Channel Nine office, where he was due to conduct his own breakfast TV interview, to confront his accuser.
“You making any big announcements?” he asked with a wry smile.
“I’m actually telling them that the PM needs to stop you spreading these crazy conspiracy theories,” she replied.
And it was on.
For a full three minutes they went at it.
Kelly’s finger wagging was met with a calm, disdainful smile from the Shadow Minister for Women and Education.
“My mum lives in your electorate” she said.
“I don’t want her to be exposed to people who are not going to be vaccinated because of these crazy conspiracy theories.”
“You’re the one spreading misinformation,” Kelly replied.
“You and the people in the Labor party spreading smear and slime and innuendo. It has to stop.”
“I agree with your Prime Minister and your Health Minister. Do you agree with your Prime Minister and your Health Minister?” she asked.
“Of course I agree with my Prime Minister,” came the reply.
“Should people get vaccinated?” she pressed.
“Of course! Everyone should go to their doctor,” he replied.
“Should young children wear masks?”
“Young children, Tanya should not wear masks.”
Ms Plibersek threw up her arms in disgust, and so it went on.
The interaction ended with a final grenade from the Labor frontbencher.
“I take my health advice from your Health Minister and your Chief Medical Officer. I wish you would.”
And with that, the political horns unlocked, and they went their separate ways.
