Doctor asks Grace Tame to promote anti-drug message after bong photo

Aussies have rallied behind Grace Tame after an old photo surfaced of her next to a bong, but one doctor has a request for the former Australian of the Year.

A psychologist has called on Grace Tame to promote an anti-drug use message after an old photo circulated showing her sitting next to a bong.

The Daily Mail published the now-deleted photo of Ms Tame on Monday, showing the former Australian of the Year and childhood sexual abuse survivor sitting on a couch back in 2014 with a water pipe used for smoking marijuana, as a friend next to her appears to be rolling a joint.

The publication claimed the picture of a 19-year-old Ms Tame had been “unearthed” by her “critics” who had delved into her Instagram timeline, in the wake of the Prime Minister’s wife Jenny Morrison’s criticism of her manners on 60 Minutes.

While many people, including celebrities, journalists and politicians, have rallied behind Ms Tame, there is one expert who thinks the photo could have an unintended side effect.

Child psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg told 3AW that it was likely the photo was circulated in an attempt to “discredit” Ms Tame, adding that he doesn’t believe it is a reflection of her now.

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The old photo of Grace Tame resurfaced earlier this week.

“But now that it is out I think it would be good for her to come out as the former Australian of the Year and send a message to young people on cannabis use, particularly given the devastating toll it has on their mental health,” he told 3AW talkback radio host Neil Mitchell.

“I think for some young people it could normalise, glamorise and potentially sanitise the use of marijuana and that is not, obviously, the intention of Grace Tame … but I think that could be a side effect.”

Dr Carr-Gregg said Ms Tame was a hero to many Australians, especially young people.

“I hate the fact that this campaign against her is going on. I think she does a lot of really good work and this is all very disturbing,” he said.

“I would love her to come out now with an anti drug message.”

Mitchell said the teen photo of Ms Tame wasn’t “really something that needs to be exposed”.

“That photograph, I don’t think it’s a criticism of her,” he said.

“I don’t think it is a judgment of her now when she is this age. There has never been any suggestion she is abusing illegal drugs, none at all.”

Mitchell also referenced a comment made by Liberal MP Dave Sharma, who said that a similar photo could probably be found of him during his youth.

“I am sure there is a photo of me like that. I don’t think this stuff is remotely in the public interest,” Mr Sharma wrote on Twitter.

Ms Tame herself also appears to be unbothered by the picture, using the photo as an opportunity to take a cheeky swipe at the Prime Minister.

“Alright, I confess, we were doing a cover of ‘April Sun in Cuba’. On the oboe,” Ms Tame tweeted on Tuesday alongside the photo.

Ms Tame’s comment was in reference to Prime Minister Scott Morrison playing a ukulele during a 60 Minutes interview.

This was in reference to Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s ukulele rendition of the song on Sunday night’s widely mocked 60 Minutes sit-down with Karl Stefanovic.

Earlier in the week Immigration Minister Alex Hawke shut down rumours the photo was deliberately leaked to media by the federal government.

“I saw some people on Twitter start to say the government did it. I don’t believe that at all,” Mr Hawke told 3AW radio.

“The media have just as much motive in these things and public issues on pursuing people. They do it to politicians and public figures all the time. I don’t think it’s relevant. I don’t think it’s necessary.”

Photo branded ‘deplorable hit job’

Support for Ms Tame came hand-in-hand with criticism over the Daily Mail’s decision to share the image.

The Project host Lisa Wilkinson slammed the circulation of the photo as a “deplorable hit job”.

“These relentless hit jobs on @tamepunk are utterly deplorable,” she wrote on Twitter.

“They’re designed to say to any woman striving for change: step out of line/question the status quo and we’re coming for you. What a good time to make a donation to the Grace Tame Foundation.”

These relentless hit jobs on @tamepunk are utterly deplorable.

They’re designed to say to any woman striving for change: step out of line/question the status quo & we’re coming for you.

What a good time to make a donation to the Grace Tame Foundation.https://t.co/vvrPsfYzkP

— Lisa Wilkinson (@Lisa_Wilkinson) February 14, 2022

Comedian and fellow The Project host Peter Helliar said there was a “fair chance” the bong photo would get Ms Tame nominated for Australian of Year again.

“It’s hard but I forgive Grace,” said comedian Wil Anderson, who then shared a photo of himself smoking a weed pipe.

Musician Ben Lee wrote, “She keeps getting better.”

Author John Birmingham wrote, “Didn’t think it was possible for Grace Tame to be any cooler. Was wrong.”

One Twitter user asked, “But did she sh*t herself at Macca’s after the ‘97 NRL GF?”, a reference to the viral rumour that Scott Morrison “soiled himself at Engadine McDonald’s” – which the PM has described as “the biggest load of rubbish”.

Quite possibly, I would’ve been 2 years old. I shit myself a lot back then. https://t.co/PaF3fF0gIX

— Grace Tame (@TamePunk) February 14, 2022

In her only direct comment about the photo so far, Ms Tame replied, “Quite possibly, I would’ve been two years old. I sh*t myself a lot back then.”

She has liked a large number of tweets coming to her defence, including one suggesting she may take legal action.

That tweet read, “How did the Daily Mail get the photo? I’ve seen tweets saying it came from @TamePunk Instagram. If that’s true, then Grace Tame (and/or the photographer) are the copyright holder(s). Be a shame if the Mail got sued.”