PM’s wife Jenny Morrison reveals how she felt about Grace Tame’s encounter

Jenny Morrison has revealed how she really felt about Grace Tame’s frosty encounter with the PM during an Australia Day function at their home.

Scott Morrison’s wife Jenny has revealed her disappointment about Grace Tame’s frosty ‘side eye’ encounter with the Prime Minister during an Australia Day function at their home.

The then-Australian of the Year and sexual assault survivor made headlines last month when she refused to hide her displeasure of being at a morning tea hosted by the prime minister at The Lodge in Canberra.

The awkward encounter saw Ms Tame giving Mr Morrison a less than friendly handshake with a scowl on her face before throwing him an icy sideways glance.

Mrs Morrison mum-of-two carefully said she wishes Ms Tame had displayed more ‘manners and respect’ after being invited into their home.

“I just found a little bit disappointing, because we were welcoming her in our home,” she said.

“I just wish the focus had been on all the incredible people coming in.

“I respect people that want to change things, stand up for their beliefs, and are strong, but I still think there are manners and respect.”

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce also backed Mrs Morrison’s comments over the “disappointing” encounter.

“Jenny can say it but we can’t, (but) I agree with Jenny I have to say,” Mr Joyce told Seven.

“I just think if you are going to see the Prime Minister, you respect the office if nothing else.

“You understand it is a great honour to be there. The Prime Minister does not own The Lodge, he holds the office – respect the office.

“And if you turn up, you know you’re doing it in front of the Australian people and you act with dignity and walk in, and you can still have your strong political views, you are absolutely entitled to them and entitled to voice them, but I do not think people roll with the theatrics.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his wife Jenny with Grace Tame, who appeared to be uncomfortable with the meeting. Picture: Gary Ramage

The mum-of-two also revealed how she believes Mr Morrison can win the Federal Election despite mounting odds against him.

“I think the Australian people on the whole, they totally know what’s going on. I think they have been very disappointed with seeing some of the things that are going on at the moment,” she told Nine/60 Minutes reporter Karl Stefanovic.

“I truly believe that. And sometimes the loudest people take up the most space. But there’s a lot of other people out there that are just concentrating on their families and just having a good life.

“And I think Scott can give Australians the best of the life that they desire.”

Mr Morrison is confident he can win the election, despite falling approval ratings in the polls, and is quick to laugh off Stefanovic’s observation that “there are people out there saying you’ve got no chance.”

“Yeah, they did last time too,” he said.

But there is no pressure coming from Mrs Morrison.

“If we lose, life just goes on,” she said. “We go back to our home, go back to our friends and family and get on with things.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and wife Jenny on 60 Minutes. Picture: Nine/60 Minutes

In the wide-ranging interview with Stefanovic, Mrs Morrison also shared her regret about the family’s controversial 2019 trip to Hawaii, when Australia was in the grip of one of its worst bushfire seasons in history.

The couple were asked if they thought about packing their bags and returning to Australia, or if they did “get the outcry” over their decision to continue with their trip despite the fire carnage.

“Absolutely. Look, absolutely. And I am more than sorry if we disappointed … did we make the right decision?” Mrs Morrison said.

“I thought I was making the right decision for my kids. I obviously was wrong … But yes, we’re over there seeing it and I’m like (we) really need to get home. I wish that had never happened but I can’t change it.”

The PM agrees but doesn’t elaborate.

Mrs Morrison might be happier away from the spotlight, but her silence should not be taken as disinterest. She revealed she was a regular sounding board for her husband but was not involved in his decisions.

“Do I make policy decisions? Absolutely not. Would you want me to? Because they’d be bad,” she said. “But I can tell him how I feel about something.”

That said, she conceded she was “not a fan” of politics, saying “I just find it too much, too ruthless, too much going on.” She was quick and adamant in her response to Stefanovic asking her if she had ever thought about a career in politics.

“No. Never. Never will. Never. Never. Never,” she said.

‘SICK TO MY STOMACH’: JENNY MORRISON REVEALS TOLL

Asked what advice she would give her 16-year-old self, Jenny Morrison is succinct: “Run!”

In the interview, the usually media-shy Jenny Morrison opens up about some of the highs and lows of life in The Lodge.

“I actually felt sick to my stomach,” she tells Stefanovic at one point during the interview, reportedly in response to a question about leaked text messages in which an unnamed cabinet minister called the Prime Minister a “psycho”.

The 54-year-old was considered an asset on the campaign trail in 2019 when Scott Morrison pulled off an election victory that few predicted.

Jenny and Scott Morrison during the tell-all interview.

The interview comes after another tough week for the Prime Minister, with the shelving of the religious discrimination bill, and a deteriorating performance in the polls.

Forty-three per cent of respondents to the most recent Newspoll had Scott Morrison as preferred prime minister – but Anthony Albanese was nipping at his heels with 41 per cent.

The same Newspoll put the Coalition’s two-party-preferred vote at 44 per cent compared with 56 per cent for Labor: its worst position since September 2018.

Sixteen per cent of respondents said they were still undecided between Morrison and Albanese – and it is these Australians whom the Coalition are hoping will see a different side to the Prime Minister in tonight’s profile.

Clips from the segment show Morrison strumming a ukulele at a casual family dinner party, and joking with Stefanovic about kitchen knives, and their euphemistic role in politics.

Asked about some of the tougher criticism that has been thrown his way, Morrison tells Stefanvoic: “I feel it and bleed like everyone else.”

Another clip shows the Nine veteran telling Morrison about his electoral chances: “You might need more than a miracle this time, you might need the second coming.”

“Well I believe in that too,” Morrison replies.