Scott Morrison Hits Out At ‘Narcs’ Making Fun Of His Attempts At Welding
“This was a pretty tricky little device I was trying to use," he said in his defence.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison made headlines over the weekend during his latest attempt to lure voters.
This time, he was with a bunch of tradies in Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, trying his hand at welding.
The PM was supplied with the required safety equipment, including the appropriate face protection, however right at the key moment he lifted up his protective visor.
Secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, Sally McManus, was among those to criticise Morrison's dangerous actions, posting the video with the caption: 'What do the tradies of Australia think of this?'
Speaking about the incident though, the PM had multiple defences.
"This was a pretty tricky little device I was trying to use. I hadn't used that one before," he told Ben Fordham on Sydney's 2GB.
"But, Ben, what I like to do, and it doesn't matter whether I'm at a welding shop or whether I'm in a hairdressers, I like to learn and understand what our trainees and apprentices are doing."
He also had no time for those who had been critical of his hands-on abilities.
"And, you know, I think it's sort of a bit passing strange, you know, that they'll have a, they never used to say anything about me doing things on welding or, you know, those things that people think are more blokey jobs.
"But I go and do what what young female apprentices are learning to do at a hairdressing salon, and they have a crack at me.
"I think they're fantastic. I think all of our apprentices are fantastic.
"They're hard jobs and you've got a lot to learn, as I showed everybody. I've got a lot to learn if I wanted to do those jobs.
"I just think our apprentices and the small businesses that are giving them a go are fantastic, and if all the narcs, you know, in the bubble want to have a crack at me, well, they can.
"But what I'm doing is showcasing the great work of our apprentices and small businesses."
A couple of weeks ago, Morrison tried his hand at another trade, taking up hair-washing duties at a Victorian hair salon.
Photo and PR opportunities with politicians are only set to increase in the coming weeks and months as Australia crawls towards the 2022 election.
Morrison has not yet announced the date, however it is expected to take place on or before May 21.
The population must be given at least 33 days notice of the impending election date, but it's possible to have as many as 68 days between when the writ is issued and the actual election date.
The most recent Newspoll results, released by News Corp, put Morrison's Coalition steady at 34 per cent of the primary vote, with Labor also steady at 41 per cent.
When it comes to just the two major players, the Coalition nudged up slightly from 44 per cent to 45 per cent, causing Labor to drop from 56 per cent to 55 per cent.
Asked who would make the better Prime Minister, Morrison remained steady from the last poll on 43 per cent.
Opposition leader Anthony Albanese slipped from 41 per cent to 38 per cent, while those who are 'Uncommitted' rose from 16 per cent to 19 per cent.
Featured Image Credit: Channel 7 & 20th Century TelevisionTopics: News, Scott Morrison, Australia
Vivienne Kelly