Barnaby Joyce has apologised after using a violent election metaphor weeks after former US president Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt.
The former deputy prime minister had been speaking at an anti-wind farm rally in Lake Illawarra near Wollongong, in NSW, on Sunday.
He urged locals to vote down the offshore wind turbines, comparing a ballot paper to a bullet, and claimed their ‘greatest weapon’ was ‘to turn up in numbers’.
‘The bullet you have is a little piece of paper, it goes in the magazine called the voting box,’ Mr Joyce said.
‘It’s coming up. Get ready to load that magazine. Goodbye, Chris. Goodbye, Stephen. Goodbye, Albo.’
Mr Joyce had been referring to Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen, Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
On Monday, the Nationals MP was confronted by Sunrise host Natalie Barr over the choice of image in light of the assassination attempt in the US on July 13.
Mr Trump was delivering a speech at a Pennsylvania rally when 20-year-old gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire.
On Monday morning, Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce was confronted by Sunrise host Natalie Barr over the choice of image, especially in the wake of US Presidential hopeful Donald Trump ‘s shooting (pictured)
The former US president was shot in the ear before he was rushed off stage with blood on his face while spectator Corey Comperatore, 50, was killed.
‘Barnaby, do we need to be using “bullet” in the lead-up to an election?’ Barr asked.
Mr Joyce was at first defensive over his use of imagery.
‘The ballot paper is the weapon you have. It shouldn’t be a bullet, it should be a ballot paper and the ballot box,’ he responded.
He then went on a rant in which he compared wind turbines to dog poo.
‘It is like saying the fertilising capacity and the beauty of dog turd on your lawn in the middle of the morning works as well,’ he said.
And so wind towers are like dog turds in the ocean, dog turns in the environment — absolutely disgusting. Nobody wants them.’
But Barr did not let him off the hook that easily.
‘But the language, using the word “bullet” — they’ve had an assassination attempt in the US — do you think it’s a good use of that word?’ she said.
Mr Joyce, appearing visibly frustrated, bit back before NDIS Minister Bill Shorten, who was also appearing on the program, also stuck the boot in.
‘Barnaby obviously feels very passionately about wind towers,’ he said.
‘But I think if he had his time again he shouldn’t be using the metaphor of bullets and magazines. There’s enough words in the English language.’
‘Barnaby, sometimes in politics we speak first and because our passions take over.
Mr Trump was delivering a speech at a Pennsylvania rally when 20-year-old gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire
‘Smartest call here, would be just to say apologise for using that metaphor because we’ve had the Donald Trump assassination attempt.’
Mr Joyce eventually gave into the pressure and offered an apology.
‘Here we go,’ he said.
‘I apologise for using that metaphor. I’ve done it on Sunrise.’
In 2018, Mr Joyce was sent a bullet and a threatening note by an environmentalist who was later handed a two-year suspended prison sentence and a fine of $4,000.
At the time of the incident, Mr Joyce said that it was ‘the sort of garbage we have to put up with (as politicians)’.
‘This is not the sort of politics we want in Australia,’ he added.
