Therese Rein, Kevin Rudd’s wife, replies to parody account’s tweet

The wife of former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has been ridiculed by federal senators for falling for a parody account’s tweet.

Therese Rein, the wife of former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, has been ridiculed for appearing to take seriously a tweet from an account parodying current PM Scott Morrison.

The parody account @ScottyFromMktg wrote on Sunday: “I will comment on the Queensland floods when I am back at work tomorrow.”

Ms Rein replied: “Because flooding and suffering and anxiety and loss don’t happen on your weekends or holidays.”

Because flooding and suffering and anxiety and loss don’t happen on your weekends or holidays.

— Thérèse Rein 💉💉 💉 (@Therese_Rein) February 27, 2022

When a Twitter user pointed out that the account was a parody, she responded,

“I know. :)”

Twitter users largely responded with incredulity, singing a chorus of “no you didn’t” and “yeah right”.

No you didn't.

— Tim Smith (@tim_smith1981) February 27, 2022

yeah right.

— GaryGravy (@garygravy) February 27, 2022

LNP representatives weighed into the conversation, with Senator James McGrath responding, “More Labor Lies. #auspol.”

More Labor Lies. #auspolhttps://t.co/1Yl3U0dh9j

— Senator James McGrath (@SenatorMcGrath) February 27, 2022

Senator Matt Canavan wrote, “Been a bad day for disinfo on Twitter. Therese Rein, Kevin Rudd’s wife, has just replied to a fake Scott Morrison account … always check the handle!”

Been a bad day for disinfo on twitter. Therese Rein, Kevin Rudd's wife, has just replied to a fake Scott Morrison account ... always check the handle! https://t.co/fsrKruqqry

— Proud Aussie Matt Canavan (@mattjcan) February 27, 2022

This is not the first time that Ms Rein has come into the crosshairs on Twitter. In a since-deleted tweet last year, Ms. Rein asked: “The 50 million doses of AstraZeneca for Australia are being manufactured by biopharmaceutical company CSL. Which senators and MPs and donors of the federal coalition have shares in CSL?”

She was criticised at the time for “floating a conspiracy theory” about the motivation of the Australian government in procuring an abundance of AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccines produced in Melbourne by CSL while failing to do so for other manufacturers’ vaccines including those of Pfizer and Moderna.

Therese Rein has been ridiculed for apparently taking seriously and replying to a parody Scott Morrison account. Picture: Lukas Coch / AAP

There is no evidence that federal MPs were swayed in their vaccine procurement decisions by potential personal financial gain.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported today that Kevin Rudd had contemplated a return to federal politics last year.

“Three sources with knowledge of Mr Rudd’s planned return to federal politics said Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese became involved in discussions to practically veto his attempts to gain preselection but sources close to Mr Albanese denied he was personally drawn into the issue,” the newspaper reported.

“A spokesman for Mr Rudd said in a statement: ‘Kevin is frequently approached by local branch members to run for seats around the country, but he’s always politely rejected these approaches. Kevin intends to spend this election scrutinising the Murdoch media’s continued abuse of its monopoly power to spread lies about the Labor Party and its policies.’”

Originally published as Therese Rein, Kevin Rudd’s wife, replies to parody account’s tweet