Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery posts violent Christmas meme on Facebook
A Labor MP is copping criticism for posting a violent meme on Facebook, then ‘openly abusing’ commenters who took offence to it. See the meme.
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Despite tradition dictating that Christmas decorations should be put up in December, you’d be forgiven if you wanted to bring some festive cheer to your home a little early this year to mark the end of a horror 2020.
But there would be no leniency for those looking to decorate in November from Labor MP for Wallsend Sonia Hornery.
As Confidential learned this week, Hornery is such a traditionalist that she took to Facebook to share a meme declaring: “Every time someone decorates in November, Santa kills an elf.”
The post, featuring a cartoon Santa training a shotgun on a hapless elf, was posted with the comment “for those of you thinking about putting your Christmas tree up a few days early, just remember …”.
The now-deleted meme was taken down only after circulating among colleagues in the Labor ranks who failed to see the funny side.
Neither did a number of the 32,000 people who “like” Hornery’s official page.
“Since when is violence and killing humour? You need to check yourself!” one pundit commented.
It seemed Hornery wasn’t initially deterred by the detractors — in response to one commenter who declared “some people might not see the funny side”, the MP’ said: “This helps weed them out.”
And to one user who lamented that “sad people actually vote for you”, Hornery responded: “75 per cent of the electorate did. That’s a lot of sad people.”
As one Labor source suggested: “Only a backbencher with a margin of 25 per cent could get away with openly abusing their constituents on Facebook”.
Hornery’s state parliamentary colleagues weren’t amused about the post — or the Wallsend MP’s interaction with her constituents.
“Clearly the member for Wallsend is taking advice from the social media experts in Beijing,” one MP said.
When Confidential contacted Hornery, she didn’t want to comment except to say that she took ultimate responsibility for what appears on her page, and that the post had been deleted.
She said she was “very sorry if it caused offence”.
A spokeswoman for Jodi McKay said the Labor leader wasn’t going to comment on the post.
COP-OUT CONFUSION
There were a few raised eyebrows this week in the NSW Police Force when the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission recommended Police Commissioner Mick Fuller sack a senior officer over an alleged sexual harassment complaint.
Maybe he would have fired the officer with more than 30 years’ experience or maybe not — we will never know because the cop left the force in June.
The saga is not over, with the accused’s lawyers now complaining to Parliament and NSW Police, saying their client was denied a chance to clear his name.
BIG NAMES IN BLUE
For months, secrecy has surrounded the planning of a huge passing out parade for this year’s crop of young NSW cops.
For security reasons the location of Friday’s ceremony has been disclosed only to family and friends.
Among the graduates is Nicholas McCormack, son of Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack.
And the opening of the Queensland border came just in time for former Harry’s Cafe de Wheels Owner Michael Hannah, who drove down from Surfers Paradise to watch his son Max throw his hat in the air.
THE FENWICK DECISIONS LOOMS
Balmain East’s harbourside venue The Fenwick will find out next week if it can keep its doors open beneath the stars.
The Inner West Planning Council will meet on Tuesday to decide whether to amend the development approval of the historic 1880s boatshed-turned-restaurant and art gallery so it can trade past 5pm.
The venue has been barred from trading past dark due to concerns about parking and noise. Sydney restaurant baron Bill Drakopoulos opened The Fenwick after the council spent millions transforming the historic building in 2019.
Mr Drakopoulos, of Aqua Dining and Ripples, spent 17 years vying for The Fenwick, and said being able to stay open into the evening would help create about 10 to 15 jobs.
PSSSST …
Condolences to those mourning the death of the trustee of the Sydney Cricket Ground.
A death notice for the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust appeared in the Tribute pages of Wednesday’s Sydney Morning Herald.
The tribute comes after the SCG Trust, which looks after the Sydney Football Stadium and historic cricket ground, was merged with Venues NSW to create a single organisation.
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