‘Flustered’ Ricky Muir stumbles through prime time television interview
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Version 0 of 1. Rarely seen senator-elect Ricky Muir has stumbled through one of his first media appearances, becoming flustered when asked to define the balance of power during a television interview. Muir, who takes up his position as a Motoring Enthusiast party senator next month, appeared on Channel 7’s Sunday Night program and revealed himself as a politician who has not been media trained to talk in three-word slogans. Asked to define the balance of power, he replied, sighing mid-answer: “Yes, it’s the potential, if, say in this case Labor and Greens … it’s the power to vote down legislation in the right circumstances.” Muir was elected to the Senate on 0.51% of the vote after doing a series of preference deals with other parties on the advice of the so-called preference whisperer Glenn Druery. Asked in the interview if it mattered in which country cars were manufactured, he replied: “There’s the aftermarket industry which can be supported, the people who are losing the jobs ... sorry, can we start that question again?” After pausing, Muir restarted his answer: “So there’s the aftermarket industry, which ... sorry can we go to another question, I’ve got myself in a fluster.” He then asked to leave the chair for a minute. The interview has garnered attention on social media with New South Wales Christian Democratic Party upper house member, Fred Nile, tweeting sympathy for Muir. Muir has inked a deal to partner with the Palmer United party in the Senate, but the conditions have not been made public. The government will have to gain the bloc’s vote to pass any legislation which is opposed by Labor and the Greens. |