Anthony Albanese has called for Barnaby Joyce to be sacked for using a violent election metaphor following the assassination attempt on Donald Trump.
The former deputy prime minister had been speaking at a rally against wind farms at Lake Illawarra, near Wollongong, New South Wales, on Sunday.
He urged locals to vote against offshore wind turbines, comparing a ballot paper to a bullet, and claimed their “biggest weapon” was “showing up in numbers”.
“The bullet you have is a small piece of paper that goes into a magazine called a ballot box,” Joyce said.
“He’s coming. Get ready to load that clip. Bye, Chris. Bye, Stephen. Bye, Albo.”
Mr Joyce was referring to Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen, Deputy Treasurer Stephen Jones and Premier Anthony Albanese.
On Monday, the nationalist MP was confronted by Sunrise presenter Natalie Barr over the choice of image in light of the assassination attempt in the US on July 13.
Trump was speaking at a rally in Pennsylvania when 20-year-old gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire.
On Monday morning, MP Barnaby Joyce was confronted by Sunrise presenter Natalie Barr over the choice of image, particularly in the wake of the shooting of US presidential candidate Donald Trump (pictured).
The former US president was shot in the ear before being quickly removed from the stage with blood on his face, while spectator Corey Comperatore, 50, was killed.
Mr Albanese demanded that Opposition Leader Peter Dutton take immediate action against Mr Joyce.
“That is completely unacceptable. Peter Dutton has had four reshuffles, he should have a fifth. Barnaby Joyce should go,” he told Sky News.
‘This is the kind of language that has no place in any area of Australian society, let alone public life.
“And here we have a guy going to a demonstration calling for action. Using an analogy of guns, bullets and magazines.
‘What does this guy have to do to lose his job?’
Barr harshly criticized Joyce that same morning for using that metaphor.
“Barnaby, is it necessary to use the term ‘bullet’ in the run-up to an election?” the Sunrise presenter asked.
At first, Mr. Joyce was defensive about my use of images.
“The ballot is the weapon you have. It should not be a bullet, it should be a ballot and the ballot box,” he replied.
He then launched into a tirade in which he compared wind turbines to dog poop.
“It’s like saying that the fertilizing capacity and beauty of dog poop on the lawn mid-morning also works,” he said.
And wind turbines are like dog poop in the ocean, like dog wallows in the environment: absolutely disgusting. Nobody wants them.
But Barr didn’t let it go that easily.
‘But the language, the use of the word ‘bullet’ – there has been an assassination attempt in the United States – do you think that is a good use of that word?’ he said.
Mr Trump was speaking at a rally in Pennsylvania when 20-year-old gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire.
A visibly frustrated Mr Joyce bit his lip before being kicked out by NDIS Minister Bill Shorten, who was also appearing on the show.
“Barnaby clearly has a great passion for wind turbines,” he said.
“But I think if he had his chance again he shouldn’t use the metaphor of bullets and magazines. There are enough words in the English language.”
‘Barnaby, sometimes in politics we speak first and because our passions get the better of us.
“The smart thing to do in this case would be to simply apologize for using that metaphor because we have already suffered the attempted assassination of Donald Trump.”
Mr Joyce eventually caved to pressure and apologized.
Here we go, he said.
“I apologize for using that metaphor. I used it before in Sunrise.”
In 2018, an environmental activist sent Joyce a bullet and a threatening note, then gave him a two-year suspended prison sentence and a $4,000 fine.
At the time of the incident, Mr Joyce said it was “the kind of rubbish we have to put up with (as politicians).”
“This is not the kind of politics we want in Australia,” he added.