Senator Lidia Thorpe has slammed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and branded Parliament House a ‘private school boys club’ over his reaction to the video of Barnaby Joyce lying flat on his back on a footpath mumbling obscenities.
Daily Mail Australia on Friday revealed exclusive video of the nation’s former deputy prime minister, 56, sprawled by the roadside and muttering incoherently on Lonsdale Street, in the Canberra suburb of Braddon, late on Wednesday night.
Sources told Daily Mail Australia that the Nationals frontbencher was sitting on the large pot plant having an animated phone conversation with his wife, Vikki Campion, when he fell off, ‘rolled around’ on the ground and continued with his call.
Now senator Thorpe has lashed out at the PM after Mr Albanese refused to get involved in the public backlash at the New England MP’s behaviour – despite attacking her over footage of her outside a Melbourne strip club last year.
The Prime Minister told Perth Radio station 6PR on Saturday that he wouldn’t provide a running commentary on the incident involving Mr Joyce which he said was up to the Nationals frontbencher to explain.
Senator Lidia Thorpe (pictured) has slammed the Prime Minister for his subdued response to a shocking incident involving Barnaby Joyce
‘That’s a matter for for Barnaby Joyce to explain. I think that’s a matter for him,’ Mr Albanese said.
‘I don’t intend to comment on what is clearly difficult circumstances for Barnaby Joyce.’
Ms Thorpe blasted his comments and accused the PM of double standards after he said her behaviour outside a Melbourne strip club last year was ‘unacceptable’.
‘It’s no surprise that Albanese laughs off this behaviour when it comes from one of his male colleagues,’ Senator Thorpe told news.com.au.
‘But he has demonstrated his willingness to make condescending, inaccurate comments about his female colleagues, myself included.
‘Parliament is still a private school boys club, and this is the latest example of the double standards we see from men in power.’
The independent senator for Victoria accused Mr 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.
Daily Mail Australia revealed exclusive video of the nation’s former deputy prime minister lying on the footpath (pictured) in Canberra on Wednesday night
Mr Albanese (pictured) told a morning radio program on Saturday that it was up to Mr Joyce to explain his actions
The former Greens senator’s comments come after she was widely criticised including by the PM after footage circulated of her screaming at a group of men at a Melbourne strip club.
Ms Thorpe was heard telling several of the men ‘you’ve got a small p***s’ and marched up to another saying ‘you’re marked’ in a menacing 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 that Lidia gets some support,’ he told Sydney’s 2SM radio following the incident.
‘I think that level of behaviour is quite clearly unacceptable and I think there are obvious issues that need to be dealt with.
‘Lidia needs to be very conscious of the way in which this behaviour has been seen.’
Ms Thorpe, who was banned from the strip club following the incident, said Mr Albanese needs to be conscious of the message he is sending to young women around the country, particularly those aspiring to enter politics.
She said she hopes Mr Joyce is ok.
Mr Joyce described the scene as ‘very embarrassing’ in a statement to Daily Mail Australia on Friday.
‘I was walking back to my accommodation after Parliament rose at 10pm,’ he said.
‘While on the phone I sat on the edge of a plant box, fell over, kept talking on the phone, and very animatedly was referring to myself for having fallen over.
‘I got up and walked home.’
Ms Thorpe was involved in a ugly incident outside of a strip club in Melbourne last year (pictured) and was heard yelling at several men
Mr Joyce could be heard muttering on the phone while flat on his back on the ground, including one outburst where he said, ‘dead f***ing c***’.
Sources told Daily Mail Australia he was sitting on the large pot plant having an animated phone conversation with his wife, Vikki Campion, when he fell off, ‘rolled around’ on the ground and continued with the phone conversation.
Critics have now called for the Canberra veteran to quit in the wake of the incident.
The politician’s wife Viki Campion accused those who witnessed the incident of callousness and slammed the witness who filmed Mr Joyce lying on the group for failing to ask if he needed help.
‘It’s disgusting that when he was in need they could not even check he was OK,’ she said.
Daily Mail has contacted Mr Albanese for comment.
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