Anthony Albanese is scolded for waving around a $1 coin in Question Time
Why Anthony Albanese has caused a stir for waving a $1 coin in Parliament – while using its secret meaning to launch a devastating political attack: ‘Put that away!’
- Anthony Albanese kept a $1 coin in Parliament
- He did the same during the election campaign
- Do you have a political tip? Email brittany.chain@mailonline.com
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has caused a stir by waving a $1 coin in the air during Question Time.
Mr Albanese sparked outrage from the opposition – who complained that he was ‘bringing a prop to the floor of parliament’ – when he pulled the stunt by answering a question about wage growth.
During his election campaign, Albanese promoted a $1 an hour raise for minimum wage earners. He held up a coin to illustrate the small change.
“I kept that lucky $1 coin,” an animated Albanian told MPs during question time on Wednesday.
“I kept it in my pocket during the debate, and here it is,” he said, reaching to his drawer to retrieve the coin.
Anthony Albanese was criticized for ‘bringing a prop to the floor of parliament’ while answering a question about wage growth
Prime Minister’s decision to hold a $1 coin in the air during question time has sparked uproar among opposition politicians
The House of Representatives erupted, with Liberal MP Michael Sukkar leaping to his feet to demand a point of order.
Speaker Milton Dick managed to minimize the chaos that followed and demanded that Mr. Sukkar return to his seat.
“It’s not appropriate… to tell someone to sit down,” Mr. Dick said to Mr. Sukkar.
Mr Sukkar argued against the use of a prop, saying: ‘As the Australian Prime Minister holds up a prop, he should tell the public that the dollar is now worth less.’
Another Liberal MP, Paul Fletcher, argued that there is a ‘long-standing ban on the use of props’.
Mr Albanese was asked to ‘put away the dollar coin and proceed with his answer’ – which only further exasperated the Prime Minister.
During his election campaign, Albanese promoted a $1 an hour raise for minimum wage earners. He held up a coin to illustrate the small change
He said, “Is the dollar coin offensive? You know what I find offensive?
“The fact that they thought a $1 an hour raise for minimum wage people would destroy the economy.
‘I find that insulting. That said everything about the difference between Labor and the coalition.’
Opposition leader Peter Dutton arrived in the midst of the fiery debate, returning from Sydney where he had held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Mr Dutton seemed shaken by the commotion he had run into and was addressed directly by the Prime Minister as he sat down.
“I say to the leader of the opposition, you should have stayed out a little longer because things were not going well,” said Mr. Albanese.
In response, Mr Dutton said he wished his talks with Mr Modi had lasted a bit longer to “avoid more question time”.
“As the Prime Minister points out, it followed a rather extraordinary event last night. Many attendees. From both sides of politics.
“But I told the Prime Minister this morning that every politician there was jealous last night that he could get 20,000 people on the other side of the world to chant his last name in unison.”