Federal politicians have responded to footage of ACT Liberal leader Elizabeth Lee giving the middle finger to a journalist, just three days out from the territory election.
Nationals Senator Matt Canavan joked on Nine’s Today that he “wouldn’t advise” flipping the bird at journalists.
“I’m sure she wishes she could take that back, but it was a pretty instantaneous reaction,” Canavan said with a laugh.
“And there was some pretty instantaneous reactions from her staffers nearby too,” he said of the shocked faces of Lee’s staffers who watched on.
Meanwhile, on ABC News Breakfast, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles was cheekily asked if he had ever been tempted to raise his middle finger at a journalist, to which he said he had not.
“I’ve had my share of frustrations in press conferences. Look, this is a difficult job. It’s obviously important we seek to manage our emotions in that moment,” Marles said.
“But, yes, it was a pretty extraordinary contribution to the political discourse yesterday.”