Senator Lidia Thorpe has slammed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and branded Parliament a “private school boys’ club” over its reaction to video of Barnaby Joyce lying face up on a footpath muttering obscenities.
Daily Mail Australia on Friday revealed exclusive video of the country’s former deputy prime minister, 56, lying on the side of the road and mumbling incoherently on Lonsdale Street in the Canberra suburb of Braddon late on Wednesday night. .
Sources told Daily Mail Australia that the Nationals leader was sitting in a large flower pot having an animated telephone conversation with his wife, Vikki Campion, when he fell, “rolled” on the floor and continued his call.
Now Senator Thorpe has hit out at the Prime Minister after Albanese refused to get involved in the public backlash over the New England MP’s behavior – despite attacking her over images of her outside a strip club in Melbourne last year. .
The Prime Minister told Perth radio station 6PR on Saturday that he would not provide any running comment on the incident involving Mr Joyce and that he said it was up to the Nationals leader to explain.
Senator Lidia Thorpe (pictured) slammed the Prime Minister for his subdued response to the shocking incident involving Barnaby Joyce.
—That is a matter for Barnaby Joyce to explain. “I think it’s a matter for him,” said Mr. Albanese.
“I have no intention of commenting on the clearly difficult circumstances for Barnaby Joyce.”
Thorpe criticized her comments and accused the Prime Minister of double standards after he said her behavior outside a Melbourne strip club last year was “unacceptable”.
“It’s no surprise that Albanese laughs at this behavior when it comes from one of his male colleagues,” Senator Thorpe said. news.com.au.
‘But he has demonstrated a willingness to make condescending and inaccurate comments about his female colleagues, including myself.
“Parliament is still a private school boys’ club, and this is the latest example of the double standards we see from men in power.”
The Victorian independent senator accused Albanese of contributing to the “sexism, misogyny and racism” she said “plagues Australian politics”.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms Thorpe for further comment.
Daily Mail Australia revealed exclusive video of the country’s former deputy prime minister lying on the sidewalk (pictured) in Canberra on Wednesday night.
Albanese (pictured) said on a morning radio show on Saturday that it was up to Joyce to explain his actions.
The former Greens senator’s comments come after she was widely criticised, including by the Prime Minister, after footage of her shouting at a group of men at a Melbourne strip club circulated.
Ms Thorpe was heard telling several of the men “you’ve got a little bum” and approached another saying “you’re ripped” in a threatening tone outside Maxine’s Gentlemen’s Club in April 2023.
Albanese was among critics who said Thorpe’s actions were inappropriate.
“I hope Lidia gets some support,” he told Sydney radio 2SM after the incident.
‘I think that level of behavior is clearly unacceptable and I think there are obvious issues that need to be addressed.
“Lidia needs to be very aware of the way this behavior has been viewed.”
Thorpe, who was banned from the strip club following the incident, said Albanese needs to be aware of the message she is sending to young women across the country, particularly those aspiring to enter politics.
He said he hopes Mr. Joyce is okay.
Joyce described the scene as “very embarrassing” in a statement to Daily Mail Australia on Friday.
“I was walking back to my accommodation after Parliament rose at 10pm,” he said.
‘While talking on the phone I sat on the edge of a flower pot, fell, continued talking on the phone and very animatedly referred to myself for falling.
“I got up and walked home.”
Thorpe was involved in a nasty incident outside a strip club in Melbourne last year (pictured) and was heard shouting at several men.
Mr Joyce could be heard mumbling into the phone while on his back on the floor, including one outburst in which he said: “f***ing dead.”
Sources told Daily Mail Australia that he was sitting in a large flower pot having a lively phone conversation with his wife, Vikki Campion, when he fell, “rolled” on the floor and continued the phone conversation.
Critics have now called for the Canberra veteran to resign following the incident.
The politician’s wife, Viki Campion, accused those who witnessed the incident of insensitivity and criticized the witness who filmed Mr Joyce lying on top of the group for not asking if he needed help.
“It’s disgusting that when I was in need they couldn’t even check to see if I was okay,” he said.
The Daily Mail has contacted Albanese for comment.