Jenny Morrison ‘disappointed’ by Grace Tame meeting at The Lodge with Prime Minister

The Prime Minister’s wife Jenny Morrison has vented her frustration over the awkward meeting with former Australian of the Year, Grace Tame.

Australia’s First Lady Jenny Morrison has criticised former Australian of the Year Grace Tame, saying she was “disappointed” by the recent exchange the pair shared at The Lodge in Canberra.

Ms Tame was among the guests welcomed to The Lodge for a morning tea on January 25, ahead of the Australian of the Year Awards in Canberra.

Tame and her fiance Max Heerey were welcomed by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Jenny, who both congratulated them on their recent engagement — but the pair didn’t show the same warmth in return.

The frosty exchange between the Morrison’s and Ms Tame quickly went viral, and now — Mrs Morrison has opened up about the awkward moment for the first time.

Speaking to Karl Stefanovic for an exclusive sit-down interview with 60 Minutes alongside her Prime Minister husband, Mrs Morrison quickly admitted she wished Tame had shown “manners and respect” and was “disappointed” by the whole exchange.

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Jenny Morrison said she was “disappointed” with the exchange with Grace Tame. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“I just found it 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.”

In the days follow the exchange at The Lodge in January, Tame explained her thoughts on the now viral moment.

“The survival of abuse culture is dependent on submissive smiles and self-defeating surrenders,” she posted on Twitter.

“It is dependent on hypocrisy. My past is only relevant to the extent that I have seen — in fact I have worn — the consequences of civility for the sake of civility.”

Jenny Morrison said the exchange with Grace Tame on January 25 was “disappointing”

Mr Morrison previously addressed the exchange, saying he always greets guests “with a smile” when anyone enters his home.

“When Jenny and I invite someone to our home, we greet them with a smile and they’re always welcome, and that day was actually about all the finalists we came to celebrate,” he said in the days after the ceremony.

“I haven’t raised any issues about (the incident) – all I’m saying is we were there that day to celebrate those who had done an incredible job for our country.”

The 60 Minutes feature — dubbed “Meet the Morrisons” — touched on some of the other more contentious moments in his run as Prime Minister, as the country awaits the official date of the 2022 Federal Election.

The interview with Stefanovic also covered his ill-fated trip to Hawaii, his highly-criticised comments that “as a father” he could emphasise with rape victim Brittany Higgins, and the strain of Mr Morrison’s political career on his family, with his wife Jenny sharing insight into their relationship.

Scott Morrison goes all out in a 60 Minutes interview with Karl Stefanovic.

In the interview, Mrs Morrison revealed she felt “sick to her stomach” when her husband was questioned by political journalist Peter van Onselen about leaked text messages labelling him a “horrible person” and a “complete psycho” during his National Press Club appearance earlier in February.

Days later, it was revealed Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce had labelled Mr Morrison a “hypocrite” and a “liar”.

“When I heard that question I actually felt sick to my stomach. I felt sick to my stomach because they were talking about someone that I really care about. And I just thought it was such a poor question with such bad intent, that those people just have no idea how it would affect my family” she said.

“I have grown daughters that are going to high school … They know their dad, they know their dad better than anyone else.”

Jenny Morrison said she felt sick to her stomach when leaked texted messages that discussed her husband’s character were leaked. Picture: 60 Minutes/YouTube

In what can only be described as a comedic take from the sit-down, the Prime Minister showed off his ukulele skills while seated around the dinner table alongside his wife, two daughters Lily Morrison and Abbey Morrison and Stefanovic.

The moment, which was heavily criticised on social media, had many questioning whether he learnt the musical talent while on holiday in Hawaii he took in 2019 at a time when catastrophic bushfires swept through multiple states.

“Scott Morrison probably picked up the ukulele while on holiday in Hawaii … while Australia burned. #scottythefailure,” one Twitter user wrote.

The 60 Minutes interview was plugged as ‘Mete the Morrisons”.

“Maybe the PM was actually playing the ukulele in recognition of the upcoming Feb 14 – the day Captain Cook was killed by Hawaiians,” shared ABC journalist, Tali Aualiitia.

Scott Morrison brought out the ukulele

Political commentator and Sydney Morning Herald columnist Peter FitzSimons also commented on the bizarre clip, and compared Mr Morrison’s musical stunt with former US president Bill Clinton playing the saxophone at a 1992 campaign appearance on The Arsenio Hall Show. However, he hinted that the ukulele was perhaps a less impressive instrument.