Pollies’ comic hijinks look likely to be made public
THE Prime Minister’s annual comedy routine could be broadcast live next year after controversy erupted over Malcolm Turnbull’s leaked roasting of Donald Trump.
Accusations flew thick and fast yesterday over who at the Midwinter Ball — attended by hundreds of journalists, politicians and business leaders — leaked Mr Turnbull’s speech to veteran Channel Nine political editor Laurie Oakes.
Every year, the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader deliver funny speeches at the charity function, which are off the record.
Government minister Christopher Pyne said it was great Australians got to see the funny side of Mr Turnbull, adding: “The reason Bill Shorten’s speech wasn’t leaked was because it was such a stinker.”
But the off-the-record tradition could be thrown out next year as the parliamentary press gallery, which organises the ball, looks to broadcast the leaders’ speeches live on TV — if they approve.
Mr Trump did not respond to Mr Turnbull’s speech, in which he imitated the President and poked fun at his love of “winning” and his controversial Russian links.
“The Donald and I, we are winning and winning in the polls. We are winning so much, we are winning, we are winning like we have never won before,” Mr Turnbull said.
A senior White House official was quoting as saying: “I don’t think anybody cares about that.”
Joe Hockey, Australia’s ambassador to the US, said he hadn’t been “hauled into the White House and sent back to Australia”.
“Although, I saw a series of black cars outside,” he joked.
Government minister Mathias Cormman suggested Opposition Leader Bill Shorten’s office was to blame for leaking video of Mr Turnbull’s speech to Channel Nine, but Mr Shorten’s office said that was “completely wrong” and a “disgraceful lie”.
Conspiracy theorists also wondered if the Prime Minister’s office had leaked the speech to boost Mr Turnbull’s popularity.