Canberra’s ‘Old Boys’ Club’ slammed by Lidia Thorpe after Barnaby Joyce escapes PM’s wrath for video shame – despite the blast Albo unleashed at her

Senator Lidia Thorpe has criticized Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and called Parliament House a ‘private school boys club’ for his response to the video of Barnaby Joyce lying flat on his back on a footpath and muttering obscenities.

Daily Mail Australia unveiled an exclusive video of the country’s former deputy prime minister, 56, sprawled 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 the Nationals frontbencher was sitting on the large potted plant and having an animated phone conversation with his wife, Vikki Campion, when he fell off, ‘rolled on the floor’ and continued with his phone call.

Now Senator Thorpe has lashed out at the Prime Minister after Albanese refused to get involved in the public response to the New England MP’s behavior – despite attacking her last year over images of her outside a Melbourne strip club.

The Prime Minister told Perth radio station 6PR on Saturday that he would not provide a running commentary on the incident involving Mr Joyce, which he said was up to the Nationals frontbencher to explain.

‘That’s a matter for Barnaby Joyce to explain. I think this is a matter for him,” Albanese said.

“I do not intend to comment on what are clearly difficult circumstances for Barnaby Joyce.”

Ms Thorpe slammed his comments and accused the Prime Minister of double standards after he said her behavior outside a Melbourne strip club last year was “unacceptable”.

“It is no surprise that the Albanian laughs off 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, inaccurate comments about his female colleagues, including myself.

“Parliament is still a boys’ club in private schools, and this is the latest example of the double standards we see among men in power.”

Victoria’s independent senator accused Albanese of contributing to the “sexism, misogyny and racism” that she said “plagues Australian politics”.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms Thorpe for further comment.

The former Greens senator’s comments come after she faced widespread criticism, including from the Prime Minister, after images of her shouting at a group of men at a Melbourne strip club circulated.

Ms Thorpe was heard telling several men ‘you’ve got a little p***s’ and marched up to another and said ‘you’re marked’ in a threatening tone outside Maxine’s Gentlemen’s Club in April 2023.

Mr Albanese was among critics who said Ms Thorpe’s actions were inappropriate.

“I hope Lidia gets some support,” he told Sydney’s 2SM radio after the incident.

‘I think this behavior is clearly unacceptable and I think there are clear issues that need to be addressed.

‘Lidia needs to be very aware of how this behavior is perceived.’

Ms Thorpe, who was banned from the strip club after the incident, said Albanese should be aware of the message he is sending to young women across the country, especially those wanting to enter politics.

She said she hopes Mr. Joyce is doing well.

Mr Joyce described the scene as “very embarrassing” in a statement to Daily Mail Australia on Friday.

“I was walking back to my accommodation when Parliament got up at 10pm,” he said.

‘While I was on the phone I sat on the edge of a planter, fell over, kept talking on the phone and very animatedly referred to myself as having fallen.

“I got up and walked home.”

Mr Joyce could be heard mumbling on the phone as he lay flat on his back on the floor, including an outburst in which he said: ‘dead f***ing c***’.

Sources told Daily Mail Australia he was sitting on the large potted plant having an animated phone conversation with his wife, Vikki Campion, when he fell off, “rolled on the floor” and continued the phone conversation.

Critics have now called on the Canberra veteran to quit following the incident.

The politician’s wife, Viki Campion, accused those who witnessed the incident of insensitivity and slammed the witness who filmed Mr Joyce lying on the group for not asking if he needed help.

“It’s disgusting that when he was in distress they couldn’t even check to see if he was okay,” she said.

Daily Mail has contacted Mr Albanese for comment.