Awkward timing of ABC host’s on air criticism of Scott Morrison

An ABC radio host told listeners Scott Morrison doesn’t want to address them. But just minutes later her spray of the PM backfired.

In a case of awkward timing, an ABC Radio Melbourne host has expressed her frustration about the Prime Minister rejecting invitations for an interview just moments before he joined her colleague on the AM program, The Australian’s Media Diary has reported.

As Sammy J was wrapping up the breakfast program on Thursday, Virginia Trioli went on the show to reveal Mr Albanese would be on her program just after 8:30am, however Mr Morrison had shunned the show.

“We have been pretty much told by the Prime Minister’s office and that’s been reaffirmed this morning that we will never get Scott Morrison,” Trioli said.

ABC Radio Melbourne listeners heard from Scott Morrison moments after Virginia Trioli vented her frustration about him not wanting to speak to her listeners. Picture: Jason Edwards

Sammy J asked how it had been reaffirmed to which Trioli explained that a text confirmed they “would not get Scott Morrison on the program at all”.

The reasoning was him being too busy with a full schedule.

“We were hoping that full schedule might have included us given we’ve been requesting for … it’s coming on three years now actually,” she said.

“Scott Morrison does not believe he either has an obligation to or wants to or cares to address the morning listeners on ABC Radio Melbourne – a quite substantial audience, but there you go.”

But Mr Morrison was in fact about to be heard by listeners in an almost 10 minute interview with Sabra Lane on the AM program – sandwiched between Sammy J’s show ending at 8am and Trioli’s starting at 8.30am.

Mr Morrison warned listeners about the “instability and chaos” independents would create in parliament, and also addressed interest rates and Australia’s relationships with the Solomon Islands.

After Sabra Lane said Anthony Albanese had rejected calls to be on her show, he was on air with Virginia Trioli in the next program. Picture: Liam Kidston

According to The Australian, after the interview Lane also told listeners they had made “several requests” to interview Mr Albanese but he hadn’t been available.

Then of course, as Trioli confirmed earlier, Mr Albanese appeared on the next program.

Mr Albanese’s interview started with childcare, then discussed independents and also addressed the Reserve Bank of Australia, the Solomon Islands and climate change.

Virginia Trioli said she had been asking the Prime Minister to go on her show for almost three years. Source Picture: ABC

After Mr Albanese’s interview, Trioli again expressed her frustration with listeners on Mr Morrison rejecting invitations to speak to her on the program.

“We have asked to speak to the Prime Minister as I’m sure you know,” she said.

“I’ve been a broken record on this in sharing with you the countless number of invitations we’ve made to the Prime Minister to join you on the program and I’m afraid this morning his team has indicated to us he will not be available to speak to me at all for the duration of the campaign.

“In the aftermath of the campaign, win or lose, who knows. But you won’t be hearing from the Prime Minister I’m afraid on this program.”