ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact
Colourful Nationals identity Barnaby Joyce has distanced himself this morning from party leader David Littleproud after he told viewers of ABC’s Insiders this weekend that he didn’t support a public holiday should the Matildas win the FIFA World Cup later this month.
Mr Joyce told The Advocate that he wants “a full calendar week” of public holidays should our National Women’s Soccer Team win the highest gong.
“Look, I don’t mean to cheapen the work of our medical professionals,” said Mr Joyce during a telephone call with our reporter this morning.
“But they get paid out the arse to go to work. Maybe we can all have a public holiday and people working in healthcare can get some days in lieu or something. Maybe they get 40 hours of flex-leave. It’s not important. What is important is that we enjoy this potential sporting extravaganza while it’s here,”
“With respect to David, he can’t catch or kick. I’d back that Michael Rowland at first slip over David. He doesn’t get it. He’s not into sport like me. Have you seen me in the mixed touch we go with the media each year? The Origin? David Pocock actively avoids me on the football field. Sure, if he lined me up from 20m when I’m under a high ball and the point of his shoulder made contact with my sternum at the very same split second my fingertips touch the ball, I’d evaporate and dissolve into subatomic particles. The thing is, he wouldn’t be able to catch me. I am still, despite my age, gisele-like,”
“That’s what I have in common with those sanguine rich folks in the Greens. Putting my feet up on a public holiday. Not that I’m ever too encomium in my praise for them but credit is due where credit is due. But unlike them, I’d never aggrandise my position like they do. Sorry for using these big words, I do that ‘Word of the Day’ thing on dictionary dot com.”
The Advocate reached out to the Office of the Shadow Deputy Leader for comment but have yet to receive a reply.
More to come.
