Scott Morrison takes a SAVAGE swipe at political editor Peter van Onselen for Gladys Berejiklian text bombshell where she called him a ‘horrible, horrible person’ – as one of her closest allies denies he leaked it

  • Mr Morrison hit out at journalist Peter van Onselen, who asked him about texts 
  • The Australian leader said Ten News political editor ‘is facing his own questions’
  • ‘It was done for sensationalist purposes,’ the prime minister said on Wednesday
  • Prime minister’s comments a barely veiled dig at a lawsuit brought against Ten 
  • Ex-Ten reporter Tegan George claimed the commentator had ‘humiliated’ her

By Charlie Coë For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 22:01 GMT, 1 February 2022 | Updated: 22:26 GMT, 1 February 2022


Prime Minister Scott Morrison has taken a swipe at the political journalist who ambushed him on live TV with text exchanges where former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian called him a ‘horrible, horrible person’. 

During a round of media appearances on Wednesday, Mr Morrison said Ten News political editor Peter Van Onselen – who asked him about the texts – ‘is facing his own questions’. 

‘There is still someone out there trying to do you in,’ Today host Allison Langdon asked the Australian leader. ‘It doesn’t get a greater betrayal than that, does it?’  

‘The journalist who raised it are facing his own questions,’ Mr Morrison replied. ‘There were no details or context behind [Van Onselen’s question] and it was done for sensationalist purposes.’ 

Mr Morrison’s comments were a barely veiled dig at Van Onselen being named in a lawsuit brought by his ex-Ten colleague Tegan George which claims The Project political guru wrote ‘humiliating’ and ‘belittling’ messages to her. 

Court documents were filed in the Federal Court on Monday naming Ten as the respondent and alleging it had engaged in unlawful conduct breaching the Fair Work Act.

It comes as NSW Treasurer Matt Kean – a close political ally of Ms Berejiklian – was forced to deny that he leaked the messages to van Onselen. When asked if he was the source of the messages, he said: ‘I don’t believe so’. 

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has hit back at Peter van Onselen after the journalist confronted the Australian leader with text exchanges allegedly involving former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian which called him 'horrible'

 Prime Minister Scott Morrison has hit back at Peter van Onselen after the journalist confronted the Australian leader with text exchanges allegedly involving former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian which called him ‘horrible’ 

‘Was it you?’ 2GB host Ben Fordham asked Mr Kean.

‘I played no part in the ambush on the Prime Minister. It was not me,’ he responded.

When asked again by Fordham if he was Peter Van Onselen’s source, Kean responded saying: ‘I don’t believe so’.

Van Onselen on Tuesday blindsided Mr Morrison with a series of text messages allegedly sent between Ms Berejiklian and an unnamed cabinet minister.

Ms Berejiklian allegedly described the PM as a ‘horrible, horrible person’ who is ‘more concerned with politics than people’ – and the minister allegedly replied saying he was a fraud and a ‘complete psycho’.

Mr Morrison was left stunned by the allegations and blinked rapidly before meekly replying: ‘Well I don’t know who you’re referring to, or the basis of what you’ve put to me. But I obviously don’t agree with it and I don’t think that is my record.’

Meanwhile, Mr Morrison was asked if the text exchange ‘hurt’ by Sunrise host Natalie Barr. 

‘No one cares if the prime minister’s feelings get hurt. It doesn’t matter. People say nasty things about you as Prime Minister all the time, it goes with the job.’  

Ten News journalist Peter van Onselen (pictured) confronted the PM with the series of incendiary text messages allegedly sent between former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian and an unnamed cabinet minister

Ten News journalist Peter van Onselen (pictured) confronted the PM with the series of incendiary text messages allegedly sent between former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian and an unnamed cabinet minister

Ten News journalist Peter van Onselen (pictured) confronted the PM with the series of incendiary text messages allegedly sent between former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian and an unnamed cabinet minister

'The journalist who raised it are facing his own questions,' Mr Morrison said on Wednesday morning. 'There were no details or context behind [Van Onselen's question] and it was done for sensationalist purposes.'

'The journalist who raised it are facing his own questions,' Mr Morrison said on Wednesday morning. 'There were no details or context behind [Van Onselen's question] and it was done for sensationalist purposes.'

 ‘The journalist who raised it are facing his own questions,’ Mr Morrison said on Wednesday morning. ‘There were no details or context behind [Van Onselen’s question] and it was done for sensationalist purposes.’

After a heated discussion where the Prime Minister was confronted for not knowing the price of a loaf of bread, milk and a rapid antigen test, he took a crack at the Sunrise host.  

‘Enjoy your almond latte,’ Morrison said to Kochie.

Kochie responded saying: ‘For the record, I’m rye bread, at $5 a loaf, Burgen. What about you – are you a sourdough or a multigrain?’

Morrison quipped back: ‘I’m just normal white bread taste, that’s me.’ 

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