Deputy Premier blasted by journo who forgot her microphone was on

A journalist made the mistake of forgetting to mute her Zoom call during a media conference with NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro.

A regional journalist has blasted NSW Deputy Premier during a zoom media conference when she accidentally left her microphone on.

Central Coast News reporter Skaie Hull made the mistake on Tuesday when she left her microphone on during one of John Barilaro’s online regional media conferences.

Ms Hull asked the deputy premier about reports that Covid patients from western Sydney were transferred to Gosford Hospital on Monday.

NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro; Central Coast News reporter Skaie Hull. Pictures: NCA NewsWire, Instagram

Mr Barilaro brushed the comment off claiming it was scaremongering before moving to the next question. The regional reporter then began her rant.

“Same thing, ‘scaremongering freakin rumours’. He turned his camera off on me, so I’m p***ed off,” Ms Hull said.

“He purposely did that. I caught him fiddling around and he turned it off while replying to my question.”

Skaie Hull and John Barilaro in happier times. Picture: Instagram.

Mr Barilaro interrupted the tirade to hit back at the claims.

“Skaie, we can hear all that and that’s not correct, I didn’t turn off your camera. I was actually trying to find the next question,” he replied.

“So Skaie, with everything you’ve said, I’m disappointed. And everyone else heard it as well, just letting you know.”

Number one rule as a journalist - share all the sides to the story. pic.twitter.com/8hfqJf2DEA

— Skaie Hull (@SkaieHull) September 14, 2021

Hull later shared the footage of her exchange with the premier to “share all sides” to the story.

The video was first posted on Twitter by Prime7 journalist Samantha Costin.

“Hot Tip: When in John Barilaro’s regional daily briefing with a few dozen other journos mute the mic before ranting to colleagues post questions,” she said.

Ms Hull’s question was related to reports of overcrowding in Sydney hospitals, with case numbers expected to peak this week.

Skaie Hull has defended her frustration.

Modelling indicates Sydney hospitals will be under the most stress in mid-October.

Meanwhile, the Central Coast has recorded 278 cases since the current outbreak began in mid-June in Sydney, with nine new infections on Tuesday.

There are also 13 new potential exposure sites across the region, including Wyong, Umina, Killarney Vale, Wadalba, Tuggerah, Toukely, Gosford and Kincumber.

Mr Barilaro said he did not know about a quarantine hospital in response to Ms Hull.

“Firstly, I don‘t speculate on gossip and rumour, I go off the information I’m given from health,” he said.

“This idea of a quarantine hospital, I don‘t know. I can’t give you that answer. No one is deliberately hiding this information from the public but as I often find out when things are raised, it’s nowhere near the truth.

“I don’t see what the issue is in relation to case numbers, vaccination, and the ability to manage those cases in the local hospital network. Anything outside of that is negative scaremongering.”