The Project viewers lash out at Scott Morrison after fiery interview

The much-anticipated showdown between Prime Minister Scott Morrison and The Project host Waleed Aly on Thursday divided viewers, with some criticising the Liberal leader’s body language and tone while others felt he stood up to the scrutiny well.

Mr Morrison locked horns with The Project host, who had accused the Prime Minister of trying to stoke anti-Muslim sentiment for political gain.

It was a serious charge in the wake of the Christchurch mosque massacre allegedly committed by an Australian white nationalist, and one that the Prime Minister strongly refuted.

Leaning back in an armchair in a suit and open-necked shirt, Mr Morrison seemed exasperated at times against a formally-dressed Aly, who craned forward as he asked the questions.

The two continually interrupted each other, with Aly saying at one points: ‘I feel like it is very difficult to get through a sentence at the moment.’

If the presenter was feeling frustrated he wasn’t alone, with many viewers taking to social media to express their irritation with the Prime Minister.

‘Scott Morrison is coming across as rude and bad tempered. This is not playing well for him,’ one viewer posted on Twitter.

 

Outraged viewers have slammed Scott Morrison following a heated standoff between the Prime Minister and Waleed Aly 

Mr Morrison locked horns with The Project host Thursday night, as he took on questions about anti-Muslim sentiment in politics, which led to heated moments where he would speak over the host

Mr Morrison locked horns with The Project host Thursday night, as he took on questions about anti-Muslim sentiment in politics, which led to heated moments where he would speak over the host 

If the presenter was feeling frustrated he wasn't alone, with many viewers taking to social media to express their irritation with the premier

If the presenter was feeling frustrated he wasn’t alone, with many viewers taking to social media to express their irritation with the premier 

A Twitter user shells out criticism and labels Mr Morrison a 'trainwreck' during the interview

A Twitter user shells out criticism and labels Mr Morrison a ‘trainwreck’ during the interview

Another said: ‘This is a trainwreck for ScoMo’.

One viewer added that Mr Morrison had come across as ‘patronising and passive aggressive.’ 

While Mr Morrison may have appeared fired-up at times, some viewers praised him for his composure.  

‘Waleed tried to dig up dirt on our gracious PM who tonight clarified that he stands for uniting, not dividing the Australian people,’ one person tweeted.

‘But the same can’t be said for Waleed. Its not about composure. It’s about cohesion.’

Another tweeted: ‘ScottMorrison did way better than I anticipated. I was disappointed in Waleed’s performance though.’ 

Another commented that Aly was trying to undermine the Prime Minister but said that ‘the PM handled himself just about as well as someone could in that situation. We actually have a no-nonsense, straight talking, intelligent PM.’

 Mr Morrison found himself hard pressed after Aly asked him if the Coalition and Australia more generally had a problem with Islamophobia.

Aly listed off a number of politicians who had made controversial comments in the past – including Tony Abbott who said ‘Islamophobia never killed anyone’, and Senator Fraser Anning’s ‘final solution’ speech in parliament.

Mr Morrison appeared to avoid answering the question numerous times before he said: ‘If your question to me is do I think that every single statement by any single member of the Liberal party has always been consistent …’

Aly quickly cut off the Prime Minister to say that was not his original question, when Mr Morrison snapped back: ‘Well maybe you want to rephrase it.’

Aly managed to finally squeeze an answer out of Morrison – who denied it was a problem. 

‘ScoMo has just failed to answer the same question around ten times,’ one tweeted.

Another posted: ‘Not a single question is answered by Scott Morrison straight. He’s stuttering and finding it not difficult but impossible. He’s getting very very uncomfortable.’ 

Others noted the the Prime Minster slouched back in his chair and crossed his legs , at times looking disinterested. 

‘Body language is everything! And this tells me that ScoMo actually doesn’t give a f**k,’ one person tweeted.

‘Compare the way Scott Morrison is behaving now to the composed and calm way Jacinda Ardern has conducted herself the past week – polar opposites.’ 

Though others stepped in to defend Mr Morrison and interpreted his reclined state and relaxed body language as a power move.

‘To me that means he’s not intimidated by his interviewer,’ one person said on Facebook.

‘Now sitting comfortably is against the law according to leftist thinkers.’ 

Tensions reached boiling point onscreen when Mr Morrison and Aly shifted focus on the alleged 2010 shadow cabinet meeting.

Mr Morrison found himself hard pressed after Aly asked him if the Coalition government had a problem with Islamophobia

Mr Morrison found himself hard pressed after Aly asked him if the Coalition government had a problem with Islamophobia 

Aly listed off a number of politicians who had made controversial comments in the past - including Tony Abbott who said 'Islamophobia never killed anyone', and Senator Anning's 'final solution' speech in parliament

Aly listed off a number of politicians who had made controversial comments in the past – including Tony Abbott who said ‘Islamophobia never killed anyone’, and Senator Anning’s ‘final solution’ speech in parliament 

Aly called to attention numerous Coalition senators who had attended 'Reclaim Australia' rallies

Aly called to attention numerous Coalition senators who had attended ‘Reclaim Australia’ rallies

Mr Morrison appeared to avoid answering the question numerous times before he said: 'If your question to me is do I think that every single statement by any single member of the Liberal party has always been consistent …'

Mr Morrison appeared to avoid answering the question numerous times before he said: ‘If your question to me is do I think that every single statement by any single member of the Liberal party has always been consistent …’ 

During the debate Aly referenced a 2011 report in the Sydney Morning Herald which claimed Mr Morrison had suggested his party exploit immigration policy as a political strategy.

Mr Morrison has vehemently denied the claim and said it had damaged his reputation with the Islamic community. 

‘You implied Muslims couldn’t feel safe because they had a PM who had somehow been prejudiced against them and I don’t believe that’s true,’ he said.

‘Can’t you see that what you’re suggesting is at complete odds with the experience that I have been involved in over the last 10 years of my public life?’ Mr Morrison told Aly on Thursday night. 

Mr Morrison said that as shadow immigration minister, he raised concerns about anti-Muslim sentiment and wanted them addressed.

‘I was acknowledging there were fears, and we had to address them. Not exploit them.’ 

 

 

 

 

 

During the debate Aly referenced a 2011 report in the Sydney Morning Herald which claimed Mr Morrison had suggested his party exploit immigration policy as a political strategy

During the debate Aly referenced a 2011 report in the Sydney Morning Herald which claimed Mr Morrison had suggested his party exploit immigration policy as a political strategy 

Mr Morrison has vehemently denied the claim and pointed out the statement had damaged his reputation with the Islamic community

Mr Morrison has vehemently denied the claim and pointed out the statement had damaged his reputation with the Islamic community 

Mr Morrison said that as shadow immigration minister, he raised concerns about anti-Muslim sentiment and wanted them addressed

Mr Morrison said that as shadow immigration minister, he raised concerns about anti-Muslim sentiment and wanted them addressed 

While Mr Morrison may have appeared fired-up at times, some viewers praised him for his composure

While Mr Morrison may have appeared fired-up at times, some viewers praised him for his composure

Another viewer tweets their support for Scott Morrison following the heated interview on The Project

Another viewer tweets their support for Scott Morrison following the heated interview on The Project

 

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