With AAP.
A week after his infamous $150,000 television interview pleading for privacy for his new family, Barnaby Joyce has posted two videos showing him having a row with a photographer outside a church.
The former deputy prime minister and Nationals leader recorded the incident on Sunday while asking the photographer why he was following him around.
“It’s our job,” replied the bearded photographer who refused to give his name or who he worked for.
Coming out of church, guess who is hiding in the bushes taking photos, yet won’t give his name or who he works for pic.twitter.com/YNi4hRj4qU
— Barnaby Joyce (@Barnaby_Joyce) June 10, 2018
He turned the tables, asking Mr Joyce how he could come out of church and size someone up to punch them.
Mr Joyce, who has been on sick leave from political duties since late May, said he hadn’t done that.
“Yes, you did. You pulled your right hand back. If I hadn’t walked away you would have clubbed me,” the photographer said.
“Go back to your regular job as a bouncer.”
Twitter users were quick to point out the two ironies in Joyce’s impassioned tweet.
First, it comes just days after he said he was “entitled” to lobby NSW Nationals to vote against a bill to provide “safe zones” around the state’s abortion clinics that would make it an offence to film staff and patients without their consent.
Now you know how women walking into a health clinic feel Barnaby
— Debra ????✊???? (@DebraTranter) June 10, 2018
You’re a public figure, in a public place. This person appears to have been keeping their distance – & you do court media attention. Time to answer questions about your land ownership, misuse of tax payers money & involvement in issues such as MurrayDarling #liveexports #auspol
— Denise Shrivell (@deniseshrivell) June 10, 2018
B-but didn’t you recently ring a bunch of colleagues telling them how important it is to let intrusive strangers harass people who absolutely don’t want their private life discussed in the street?
— Andrew P Street (@AndrewPStreet) June 10, 2018
He wanted to ‘sidewalk counsel’ you @Barnaby_Joyce. You know, freedom of speech and all that. https://t.co/7EMzjGDP9W
— Nareen Young (@nareenyoung) June 10, 2018
Now you know how women walking into a health clinic feel Barnaby
— Debra ????✊???? (@DebraTranter) June 10, 2018
Second, when you’ve demanded privacy, but then sold your story for $150,000 to Channel 7, things can get a little confusing.
In this case, we think journalist Peter FitzSimons put it best.
Bloody hell.
Who is giving Barnaby media advice.
INSANE for him to post this. https://t.co/kDOH7BGOx1— Peter FitzSimons (@Peter_Fitz) June 10, 2018