Monique Ryan dodges another interview in an awkward exchange
There were awkward scenes on national television when a high profile Independent was approached by Sky News for an interview.
Transparency campaigner Monique Ryan has dodged another interview in an awkward exchange where she refused to take questions from Sky News live on national television.
Dr Ryan, who won the seat of Kooyong at the last election fighting for greater transparency, also refused to take reporters’ questions just weeks ago at parliament after her husband was busted ripping down an opponent’s posters.
Sky News’ Laura Jayes had approached the independent MP at an early polling centre at Malvern, in Melbourne’s southeast, but Dr Ryan wasn’t having it.
“I’m actually just trying to ... I am here to engage with voters. We’re in pre-poll (voting),” Dr Ryan said.
“It’s the middle of an election campaign. I’m not sure it’s ideal for you to be interrupting that process.
“I have declined an interview with you already.”
Jayes then asked Dr Ryan whether she had any further thoughts on whether candidates should pay influencers for content in an election campaign.
However, the Teal MP just walked away and as one her staff approached and told Sky News that Ms Ryan had “already declined the interview”.
Poster drama
Just weeks ago footage emerged of Ms Ryan’s husband seizing the sign of Liberal candidate for Kooyong Amelia Hamer before fleeing down the street.
Ms Ryan and Mr Jordan both apologised in brief statements in the wake of the incident.
Asked about the drama at Parliament, the MP was silent when queried about how her constituents would react to the incident and whether she had any remarks ahead of the federal election.
“I don’t have a comment for you, I’ve commented on that matter already,” Ms Ryan told a reporter, turning away.
When asked whether the actions of her husband were appropriate, the teal MP replied: “Could you please get your cameras away from me.”
Influencer controversy
The Teal MP for Kooyong was recently caught in another uncomfortable moment when she was unable to give her position on undisclosed political ads.
Insiders host David Speers had asked for her response to a simple question .
Referring to independent MP Allegra Spender paying social media content providers ‘to make videos talking about the great things she is doing’, he asked if she had a problem with that.
Dr Ryan at first looked confused at the question, then paused, before saying: “We pay to generate the content we put to the voters.”
“I’m not sure there’s a big issue there,” she said.
“Should it be clear to voters, people looking at this content, that it’s paid for by the politician?” Speers asked.
Dr Ryan then said, “Ah, look, I don’t really have an opinion on it.”
An astonished Speers said “Really?” before laughing out loud.
“You don’t think voters deserve to know if someone they are watching is saying great things about that politician, whether they’re being paid by the politician?” he said.
Dr Ryan, who was a paediatric neurologist before becoming an MP then said, “I don’t know.
I think... I’d have to give it some thought, David,” she said.
She later had a jab at the ABC suggesting “the reality is young people don’t watch Insiders.”
Campaigns paused
Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton suspended campaigning as a sign of respect for the death of Pope Francis on Tuesday.
After paying his respects overnight at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne the Prime Minister joined Catholics for an early morning mass shortly before 7am.
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher told the ABC this morning that Catholicism was a “deep part” of Mr Albanese’s childhood.
“As someone who was born as a Catholic and raised and went to school at a Catholic school it’s been a deep part of his upbringing,” she said.
“He’s affected just like many millions of others are.”
The death of Pope Francis comes as early voting opens today with just two weeks left before the federal election on May 3.
Mr Albanese and Peter Dutton will face off in an election debate hosted by Channel 9 at 7.30pm.
Earlier this morning Mr Dutton accused the Prime Minister of “throwing mud” to damage his standing with voters.
‘Not a beauty contest’: Dutton hits back
Sunrise host Nat Barr has confronted Mr Dutton over whether his personality is turning voters off prompting the Liberal leader to declare the election is “not a beauty contest”.
Accusing the Prime Minister of telling voters “lies” about Medicare in the election, Mr Dutton has insisted that the Liberals polling in individual seats is better than the published polls suggest.
Speaking in Orange, NSW, Mr Dutton reflected on the death of the Pope before he was hit with a series of questions on his own performance.
“It is a time for reflection for so many, isn’t it? Let’s go to the election. Look, the elephant in the room is this polling,” Sunrise host Nat Barr said.
“Forty-five per cent of voters say you are the reason they won’t vote for the coalition. How do you correct the course from here?”
“Well, Nat, today is not the day for big politicking, but obviously, the government has thrown mud,” Mr Dutton said.
“Mostly based on a lie, frankly, in relation to the Medicare campaign.
“The bulk-billing rates have dropped under this government. A complete fabrication. I think people realise what the government is saying is built on a lie.
“But if you throw mud in the game and put $20 million behind it, it has an impact.”
Host Nat Barr ploughed on, suggesting “it sounds like it will be on personality when you have nearly half the electorate saying it is your personality. Does some of that hurt?”
Mr Dutton pointed to the 2019 poll result, where the published polling suggested that Labor leader Bill Shorten would win the election and Scott Morrison was returned as Prime Minister.
“The reality is there was a different outcome. I won’t go into the private polling, but you will see where the government is spending money at the moment in their defending seats at the moment,” Mr Dutton said.
“They are not on the offence. Australians are hurting. That is the reality.
“For me, I am a truthful, independent person. I have always said during the course of this campaign and the course of my career Ike will stand up for what I believe in.
“Sometimes you can make some people unhappy, but I truly believe, as we did yesterday, that crime and law and order is a serious issue. I want to do more to keep our country safe and help families who are really struggling at the moment and our 25 cent a litre cut to fuel. That is what the election will be contested on, not the personalities and mud being thrown by Labor.”
Barr noted that the polls had basically flipped in favour of Labor.
“You were in front a couple of months ago and now you are behind. Are you saying that your internal polling is saying that your internal polling is saying something thank you can win?,” she asked.
“No question about that, Nat. Look at The Australian today where they are spending money, they are defending seats and that is the reality. In Victoria, people have had enough of Labor at a state and federal level,” he said.
“I think there are a lot of quiet Australians who are not that interested in politics, … the reality of their own lives the past few years or their neighbour or sister or brother or someone in their family and they know it has not been an easy time.
“It is not a beauty contest.”
Early voting opens today, with less than a fortnight until election day on Saturday, May 3.
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