A senior cabinet minister has been caught delivering a series of embarrassing gaffes while appearing on early morning television.
Christopher Pyne was appearing on Nine’s The Today Show from Adelaide alongside host Ben Fordham and Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese on Friday morning for their regular ‘Pyne v Albo’ segment.
While discussing New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s visit to Sydney, Mr Pyne mangled the name of the new Kiwi leader.
After stumbling over her first name a couple of times, the Liberal MP called her ‘Jessica’ Ardern.
Christopher Pyne was appearing on Nine’s The Today Show from Adelaide alongside host Ben Fordham and Labor MP Anthony Albanese on Friday morning for their regular ‘Pyne v Albo’ segment
While discussing New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s arrival in Sydney, Mr Pyne managed to mangle the name of the new Kiwi leader
Fordham was quick to pick up on Mr Pyne’s blunder, and asked the MP if he meant to say ‘Jessica’.
Mr Albanese also attempted to correct his Liberal counterpart, but he seemed to be incorrect as well by suggesting her name was ‘Jacinta’.
After some bemused looks and laughter from Fordham and Mr Albanese, Mr Pyne corrected himself.
The discussion then turned to Michaelia Cash’s withdrawal of remarks on rumours involving Labor leader Bill Shorten.
‘This issue’s over Karl,’ Mr Pyne said, confusing Fordham with regular Today host Karl Stefanovic.
‘I’m not Karl, and the Prime Minister of New Zealand isn’t Jessica. Fair dinkum,’ Fordham replied.
‘I’m having one of those mornings,’ Mr Pyne said, while Mr Albanese said the Liberal MP was ‘not good in the morning’.
Mr Pyne also suggested the fact it was Mr Albanese’s birthday was making him ‘too excited’
Mr Pyne also suggested the fact it was Mr Albanese’s birthday was making him ‘too excited’.
The segment finished with a cake being presented to Mr Albanese while Mr Pyne sang him ‘Happy Birthday’.
It’s not the first time his choice of words has raised questions.
In 2014, he was forced to deny calling Labor leader Bill Shorten a ‘c**t’ during question time.
At the time, Speaker Bronwyn Bishop told Mr Pyne to ‘refer to the opposition leader by his correct title’.
‘This issue’s over Karl,’ Mr Pyne said, confusing Fordham with regular Today host Karl Stefanovic (pictured)