Treasurer Scott Morrison ‘beeped’ during Weekend Today interview

VIEWERS were left confused when part of Nine’s interview with Treasurer Scott Morrison was beeped out today. Here’s what happened.

TREASURER Scott Morrison raised eyebrows today when part of his interview with Laurie Oakes was randomly censored by Nine.

But Morrison was not intentionally silenced — it was a technical glitch, according to Nine.

ScoMo was beeped on Nine’s Weekend Today, where he was grilled about the upcoming federal budget by veteran political reporter Oakes.

Viewers were left confused when one of the Treasurer’s responses was censored with a “beep”, leaving them wondering what had happened.

Did Scott Morrison just swear in his interview with @LaurieOakes? Why the bleeping out Channel 9? #auspol

— James Wagstaff (@james_wagstaff) May 6, 2017

@9NewsAUS @ScottMorrisonMP Why did you bleep out "what we're focussed on"?

— Alan Baxter (@AlanBixter) May 6, 2017

@9NewsAUS Oh you block out the f word or what did scott morrison say to laurie oakes

— michael dever (@mickeydstud) May 6, 2017

@TheTodayShow @ScottMorrisonMP I didn't expect to see Scott Morrison swearing on breakfast TV hahahahaha

— MS DOS (@Metalliphyll) May 6, 2017

Some viewers wondered if he used a swear word, while others speculated it was a broadcast sound error by Nine, and that what Morrison actually said was “what we’re focused on”.

A Nine spokeswoman confirmed to News Corp Australia that was a technical error.
“A burst of tone went to air. The interview was live (on the East Coast) so we would not

censor or “beep” intentionally,” the spokeswoman said.

Weekend Today apologised on-air to Morrison for the unfortunate error.

FUTURE FUND ON HOLD: MORRISON

Morrison and Oakes were discussing the funding changes to Gonski 2.0 that have angered Catholic schools.

The Treasurer was defending his education funding plan, and Oakes asked him how the funding would spill over to the Coalition’s party room.

Laurie Oakes questioned the Treasurer about education on Weekend Today. Picture: Supplied

Oakes mentioned former Prime Minister Tony Abbott and when Morrison began to retaliate, his response was inaudible.

“The politics is not the issue, what the issue is,” Morrison said, as he was cut off by Oakes.

Oakes interjected: “Well, politics is the issue that Tony Abbott is stirring this along.”

Morrison then added: “Well, that can be the issue for other people but we’re (beep) ... on is supporting the schooling needs of every child in the country and making it fair.”

Meantime, Morrison said pensioners would received a one-off payment - $75 for singles and $125 for couples - in Tuesday’s budget to help cop rising energy costs.

“That’s specifically because of increasing electricity prices,” Morrison told Nine.

Originally published as Treasurer Scott Morrison ‘beeped’ during Weekend Today interview