Anthony Albanese cracked a joke at a high-powered black-tie dinner. It went down like a lead balloon: 'Disgusted to the core' The PM made an awkward comment about live exports He was addressing a gala in Canberra with 600 farmers By Charlotte Karp For Daily Mail Australia Published: 03:37 BST, 21 August 2024 | Updated: 03:37 BST, 21 August 2024 e-mail View comments Farmers have been left 'disgusted to the core' after Anthony Albanese appeared to crack a joke about eating live exports at an agriculture awards dinner. The Prime Minister made the bizarre comment while addressing about 600 people at the AgriFutures Rural Women's Award gala at Parliament House on Tuesday night.
Referring to a meal he shared with the Indonesian President-elect Prabowo, Mr Albanese said: 'We had dinner, beautiful Australian beef - not the live export, we made sure it was dead'. Earlier this year, Labor announced live sheep exports would be phased out over a four-year period, with a total end to them by May 2028. The decision was widely criticised by farmers who said the ban would decimate their businesses.
One gala guest said on X there was an 'audible murmur of discontent in the room' when Mr Albanese cracked the joke. On Wednesday, Nationals leader David Littleproud said he was contacted by farmers who saw the comment as mocking their industry. Pictured: Farmers and agricultural workers who attended the dinner on Tuesday night Read More EXCLUSIVE The Flying Kanga-RORT - why you're footing the bill as airlines wine and dine pollies in VIP club 'Why the Prime Minister would choose the AgriFutures awards – a night celebrating our agriculture industry – to mock our industries is beyond me,' Mr Littleproud said.
He said farmers were planning a rally outside Parliament House on September 10 over the live export ban, and that more people would now likely join the demonstration. Farmers also took to social media to slam the PM. 'Seriously???,' one X user wrote.
'On the night, which celebrates the outstanding contribution of rural women, how could Anthony Albanese be so out of touch to think a joke about [live export] is going to land. 'Wonder if he will front the #FarmyArmy on 10th September?' Another said: 'If this isn’t enough reason to stand side by side at the National Ag Rally in Canberra on September 10th then I don’t know what is .' The function was an awards night for women in agriculture (pictured) A third user wrote: 'Wow.
Literally unable to read the room. What a disgusting comment.' WA Livestock and Rural Transporters president and 'Keep the Sheep' spokesperson Ben Sutherland said he felt betrayed and hurt.
'I am disgusted to the core,' he said. 'Labor throws rural communities into the wind and continually keeps laughing about it. It's no joke, in my eyes it's quite scary to have a government that doesn't care about regional Australia.
' He accused the Albanese government of taking farmers for granted and destroying livelihoods. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Albanese for comment. Anthony Albanese Share or comment on this article: Anthony Albanese cracked a joke at a high-powered black-tie dinner.
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