A Political Low Blow?
In a surprising move, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has stepped in to remove a meme posted by Victorian Labor that pokes fun at Peter Dutton and his wife Kirilly. The meme, which has since been deleted, was deemed a step too far in the world of political spats.
The Meme That Started It All
The meme in question featured a photo of Mr. Dutton and his wife from a 2019 Courier-Mail article, with the headline “He is not a monster.” The meme’s caption added a snarky comment: “Justifying dating your new partner to your friends who don’t like him.” Ouch!
The Original Story Behind the Meme
In the original article, Ms. Dutton defended her husband’s character, saying he’s a “really good man” and “not a monster.” The article aimed to humanize the then-Home Affairs Minister, who’s often portrayed as tough and unyielding.
Dutton Fights Back
Peter Dutton responded to the meme on social media, saying the Liberal Party would never target Anthony Albanese’s partner, Jodie Haydon. “I respect and like Jodie, but she is not an elected official and will not be the subject of humiliation, attack ads or public smear by the Liberal Party,” he said. “I would ask the PM to equally respect my wife.”
Liberal MPs Weigh In
Victorian Liberal MP Michael Sukkar and Senator James Paterson also chimed in, calling the meme “grubby” and a “nasty personal smear.” Sukkar accused Victorian Labor of trying to distract from their “criminal incompetence.”
Labor’s About-Face
A spokesperson for PM Albanese confirmed the meme was removed from Victorian Labor’s social media. “When the Tweet was drawn to his attention, the Prime Minister demanded it be taken down. Families should be off-limits,” they said.
Federal Labor MP Jason Clare agreed, saying the meme was “stupid and wrong.” “A family should be off-limits. We’re on the ballot paper, not our partners.”
What do you think? Should families be off-limits in political spats? Share your thoughts in the comments!