Senior politician says it would be awkward if he needed to take his trousers off in press conference

A senior politician has joked about taking off his trousers in the middle of a press conference after he was attacked by a ‘rogue’ bull ant. 

Former deputy prime minister Michael McCormack was speaking to reporters in Wagga Wagga, in his electorate of Riverina, on Monday when the incident unfolded. 

A staffer beside Mr McCormack noticed the large ant and began to earnestly brush the politician’s shoulders before the insect travelled southward. 

‘Sorry Michael, you have a rogue bull ant,’ the man says. ‘He’s gone down your…’

‘If I have to take my trousers off halfway through this press conference that’s going to be awkward,’ the MP replied with a laugh. 

‘But it worked for Peter Malinauskas. He took his shirt off and won the South Australian premiership. A rogue bull ant. What could be worse.’

Mr McCormack was referencing a viral video of the 41-year-old seen shirtless while holding his daughter Eliza in a children’s swimming pool back in February. 

The video quickly sent tongues wagging with then-premier Steven Marshall joking he would cut carbohydrates out of his diet after watching the footage. 

The member for Riverina told reporters on Monday he believed the results of the federal election would have been tighter if he was leader of the National Party. 

Mr McCormack referenced now-viral images of the 41-year-old seen shirtless while holding his daughter Eliza in a children’s swimming pool back in February (pictured)

The member for Riverina (pictured with his wife Catherine in 2019)  said he believed the results of the federal election would have been tighter if he was leader of the National Party

Mr McCormack lost his leadership to deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce last year and hasn’t ruled out challenging him for the seat. 

There shouldn’t have been a change of leadership of the National Party in June last year, there simply shouldn’t have,’ he told reporters on Monday. 

‘At the last election, the Nationals were all returned to their seats, and we had a couple of transitioning seats with incumbents retiring and new members coming in, and the votes were much higher last time than they were this time.’

While the number of Liberal seats has been greatly diminished by independents and the Greens in the Lower House, the Nationals have retained all their seats. 

Mr McCormack cited Mr Joyce’s stance on climate policy as a factor behind the loss of Coalition seats this election but said he would focus on his role in Riverina. 

It comes as Labor remains on track to secure the minimum number of seats required to form a majority government.

Mr McCormack (pictured during Question Time in May, 2021) cited Mr Joyce’s stance on climate policy as a factor behind the loss of Coalition seats this federal election

Numbers tallied by the Australian Electoral Commission show Labor currently leading with 76 seats. But some, including the seat of Gilmore on the NSW south coast, are too close to call.

On Monday morning senior Labor figures were not ready to claim a majority government victory, but said there was a ‘strong and credible path’ towards it.

‘We’re hopeful for a majority government but there’s more votes to be counted. That’s the reality. We’ve got a few more days to go,’ newly sworn in Finance Minister Katy Gallagher told ABC News Breakfast on Monday.

The latest Australian Electoral Commission figures have Labor ahead in 76 seats and the coalition with 58 MPs.

Postal votes will continue to be received and counted until June 3 and the writs will be returned on or before June 28.