The 2019 federal election campaign, while still young, has already seen some bizarre and controversial moments.
Former senator Jacqui Lambie had some voters in stitches when she bit down on a dagwood dog, while Peter Dutton sparked uproar when he accused his Labor opponent Ali France of using her disability as ‘an excuse’.
Now, four years on from Tony Abbott notoriously eating a raw onion, it seems he has set a trend among his colleagues.
Resources minister Matthew Canavan followed in the footsteps the former prime minister and showcased a bizarre onion-eating video on Twitter during a visit to a Brisbane market on Sunday morning.
Resources minister, Matthew Canavan, has followed in the footsteps of his party’s former prime minister and showcased a bizarre onion-eating video on Twitter
‘Maybe @TonyAbbottMHR is on to something here… @onionsaust, what do you reckon?’ the minister’s tweet read.
‘Well I’ve never done this before, but I have been interested in what it tastes like, so let’s see,” Canavan said before taking a bite.
As he chewed, the Queensland senator nodded his head in approval.
‘Well I’ve never done this before, but I have been interested in what it tastes like, so let’s see,” Canavan said before taking a bite
‘Yeah, it’s not as bad as I thought… maybe it can take off,’ he said, while staffers laughed.
But it seems the stunt wasn’t well received by voters, after his post was inundated with negative comments, slamming and mocking the Queensland senator.
One Twitter user suggested: ‘I reckon you need a new media adviser.’
One Twitter user commented on the post suggesting that Canavan needed a new media advisor
One Twitter commentator wrote a comment clearly referencing the occasion Scott Morrison took a lump of coal inside parliament, in 2017
‘For my next trick I’m going to bite into a piece of coal. A mate of mine brings his to work now and then,’ one Twitter commentator wrote, clearly referencing the occasion Scott Morrison took a lump of coal inside parliament, in 2017.
‘That would be hilarious if you haven’t spent your entire time selling out farmers who grow things like that to mining companies every time,’ said another Twitter user.
‘I suggest you get yourself a newer role model! This one and his friends are passed their used by date!’ another commented.
The National Party senator’s tweet was flocked with comments mocking and criticising the stunt
The online video wasn’t received well from voters despite his own staff laughing in the video
Canavan is a part of the coalition’s junior partner the National Party, which usually doesn’t get much attention during election campaigns, according to The Guardian.
In February this year, Tony Abbott opened up about his onion eating incident in 2015.
Mr Abbott was touring Woolworths supplier, Charlton Farm Produce near Devonport in Tasmania.
He picked up the brown onion during a demonstration of the grading of the post-harvested vegetables.
‘I thought the least I could do for someone who is proud of his product as this particular farmer was… was take a chomp, and it was beautiful,’ Mr Abbott said.
The bizarre eating habits of politicians becomes extremely topical with high public interest around the time of election campaigns.
In 2016, opposition leader Bill Shorten was snapped awkwardly biting into a sausage sandwich sideways.
More recently, Jacquie Lambie shared a tweet captioned: ‘You guys know I like my sausage (laughing emoji) Down at Autumn Festival,’ leaving very little to the imagination.
In 2016, opposition leader Bill Shorten was snapped awkwardly biting into a sausage sandwich sideways
Jacquie Lambie shared a tweet captioned: ‘You guys know I like my sausage (laughing emoji) Down at Autumn Festival,’ leaving very little to the imagination