Moment Penny Wong is heckled while carrying laundry detergent during a trip to the grocery store ahead of her visit to Israel
Footage captured Foreign Minister Penny Wong being harassed by a customer during a trip to the supermarket.
Senator Wong was spotted with detergent at the Goolwa Village Shopping Center in South Australia last week.
Images of the interaction in the seaside holiday area were shared days before Ms Wong left on Monday to travel to Israel, Jordan, the occupied Palestinian territories and the United Arab Emirates.
An unnamed customer saw the foreign minister dressed in shorts and a T-shirt and carrying a bag before making unsolicited criticism of Ms Wong.
He targeted not only her, but also Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Finance Minister Katy Gallagher.
“Not a good job Penny,” he shouted.
“Not a good job buddy. You, Albo, Katy Gallagher (you) all have to go. You’re a disgrace.’
Foreign Minister Penny Wong received a harsh assessment from a heckler while she was out shopping
Ms Wong, who came out on top in a popularity poll among Australian MPs late last year, thanked her critic with a brief wave of her hand.
The foreign minister did some last-minute shopping before leaving on a diplomatic trip to Israel, the occupied Palestinian territories, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.
While acknowledging that Australia is not a central player in the Middle East, Ms Wong said the country could still play a role in stopping the bloody fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas in Gaza.
“We are a respected voice, and I will use our voice to advocate for a way out of this conflict,” she said.
Ms Wong condemned settler violence in the region and reiterated her support for a two-state solution.
“Attacking Palestinians where they have a right to be is wrong and certainly not conducive to preventing escalation,” she said.
Ms Wong will be Australia’s most senior representative to visit the region since the current conflict erupted on October 7 and the first by an Australian Foreign Minister since 2016.
Aid group Amnesty International said Ms Wong’s visit to the region should focus on ways to broker a ceasefire.
Senator Wong prepares to visit the Middle East where she will push for a ceasefire in the bloody fighting between Israel and Hamas
The spokesman for the organization’s Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel, Mohamed Duar, said there had been a “appalling disregard for human rights” in the 100 days since the war began.
“Amnesty has repeatedly documented war crimes committed by all parties to the conflict,” he said.
“The scale of death and destruction we are witnessing in Gaza today is unprecedented.
“For these reasons, Foreign Minister Penny Wong should reiterate Australia’s support for a ceasefire, and for Israel to allow unhindered and immediate humanitarian aid into Gaza during its journey.”
Ms Wong was crowned Australia’s most popular politician in a Resolve Political Monitor poll in December.
Two more Senators, independent Jacqui Lambie and LNP Shadow Minister Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, were not far behind.
The wooden spoon for being the most hated politician went to former Prime Minister Scott Morrison.