Scott Morrison accepts he misspoke on ABC’s 7.30 claiming Gladys Berejiklian denied sending the ‘horrible horrible’ person text
The prime minister has acknowledged he should not have claimed former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian denied sending a text describing him as a ‘horrible person’.
National
Don't miss out on the headlines from National. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Scott Morrison has dismissed text messages calling him “petty” and a “horrible, horrible person” as “not new” – but he conceded he should not have claimed on the ABC’s 7.30 report that former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian denied sending them.
Speaking in Sydney on Wednesday, the Prime Minister was asked about the text message mess after news.com.au published the complete exchange between Ms Berejiklian and an unnamed Liberal minister.
It followed a 7.30 report appearance where he falsely claimed that Ms Berejiklian had flatly denied sending them.
“They are the same things that people were going on about before so there’s nothing new in that,’’ he said.
“Look, Gladys had said herself that she has no recollection of that. Her own discussions with me, given the nature of the language. She would be very surprised.
“So I should have said she didn’t recollect them. All I know is I haven’t seen them. And that’s not a view about the way we work together. And I think she’s been very clear about that.”
The journalist who broke the story, Channel 10s Peter van Onselen, insists he was leaked them by a federal cabinet minister who works with the Prime Minister.
He has rejected speculation that he was provided the texts by an intermediary.
NSW Treasurer Matt Kean has also denied receiving the texts or leaking them to a journalist.
Former NSW Premier Bob Carr has previously floated his own “theory” that Peter Dutton is the mystery man in the phone exchange who calls the Prime Minister a “complete psycho.”
Mr Dutton described it as baseless and untrue and called on Mr Carr to delete a tweet saying it.
Earlier, Anthony Albanese slammed Scott Morrison for falsely claiming the texts were fake.
“The problem for the Prime Minister is the text has been made public,” Mr Albanese said, speaking to reporters in Western Australia.
“It is clearly from Gladys Berejiklian. The problem with this Prime Minister is he will often say things demonstrably not true.”
“This Prime Minister says whatever he finds convenient at the time, regardless of whether it’s the truth or not.”
NSW cabinet minister David Elliott on Wednesday told news.com.au that Mr Morrison’s critics should pull their heads in.
“Armchair generals who couldn’t make the grade. They might be disappointed when the electorate realises Scott is made of tougher stuff,” Mr Elliott said.
“And to suggest he was ‘political point scoring’ is just absolute crap.
“Yes, there was a lot of frustration and too much finger pointing but these co-ordinated attacks from his detractors on both sides of politics are motivated by jealousy and ignorance.”
Mr Elliott made the comments in the wake of leaked text messages where former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian called the Mr Morrison a “horrible, horrible person”.
The NSW MP is a long-term political ally of the Prime Minister and was recently wooed to switch to federal politics.
Mr Elliott was also criticised for taking a European holiday during the bushfires after the Mr Morrison was slammed for taking off to Hawaii for a family holiday.
But he said those criticising the PM didn’t have a clue.
“As Emergency Services Minister I spoke to Scott nearly every day during the bushfires (except for my well documented 72 hour absence!),” Mr Elliott said.
The Prime Minister just told ABC 730 Gladys Berejiklian “denies†the “horrible, horrible person†text. That is an out and out lie. #auspol
— Peter van Onselen 🎣 (@vanOnselenP) April 5, 2022
“The fact that these critics won’t go on the record is proof that they are scared of being called out to justify their criticism.”
When confronted about the “horrible, horrible person” text by host Leigh Sales on ABC’s 7.30 on Tuesday night, the Prime Minister interjected, saying: “Which she denies, by the way.”
His claim was quickly rebutted by van Onselen, who shared Ms Berejiklian’s initial text to Twitter last night, saying it proved the Prime Minister’s claim was “an out-and-out lie”.
“The Prime Minister just told ABC 7.30 Gladys Berejiklian ‘denies’ the ‘horrible, horrible person’ text. That is an out-and-out lie,’’ he said.
Ms Berejiklian has never categorically denied the exchange. She said she did not recall sending the message and praised Mr Morrison in a statement after the embarrassing leak.
Originally published as Scott Morrison accepts he misspoke on ABC’s 7.30 claiming Gladys Berejiklian denied sending the ‘horrible horrible’ person text
The ruins of Machu Picchu are in which country?
The Chase Australia’s official Shark, Brydon Coverdale, has created a new daily quiz challenge. Test yourself.
‘A lie’: Stan Grant’s controversial dig at Captain Cook
Journalist Stan Grant features in a contentious new documentary exploring a new theory about Captain Cook and a “lie” about how Australia was founded. See the video.