‘Pointless’: Liberal senator pounces on Aussie Olympian

Liberal Senator Gerard Rennick has pounced on a popular Australian Olympian over their Paris performance.

Liberal Senator Gerard Rennick has read the riot act over Sydney academic and b-girl Raygun’s kangaroo-hopping dance antics at the Paris Olympics slamming the performance as a waste of taxpayers’ money.

The 53-year old conservative has slammed the dance as a stunning example of how “just because you have a PhD in something doesn’t mean you are any good.”

Questioning why taxpayers were footing the bill for research projects in a Facebook post, he accused universities of engaging in questionable “research.”

“It also begs the question - just how many obscure and pointless courses do universities offer that are subsidised by the taxpayer,” Senator Rennick said.

B-Girl Raygun of Team Australia reacts during the B-Girls Round Robin. Picture: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

“It also goes to show just because you have a PhD in something doesn’t mean you are any good at it.”

Dr Gunn’s PhD thesis focused on “the intersection of gender and Sydney’s breaking culture”.

She is a lecturer at Macquarie University in the Department of Media, Communications, Creative Arts, Language and Literature.

Her publications include: Nocturnal Paradox: How Breakdancing Reveals the Potentials of the Night and Where the #bgirls at? politics of (in)visibility in breaking culture.

“In the same way breakdancing doesn’t belong in the Olympics, it’s fair to say taxpayers shouldn’t be subsidising Universities to study or teach it,’’ Senator Rennick said.

“I’m more interested in her actual profession. She attended Macquarie University for her bachelor’s degree in contemporary music, graduating in 2009, and for her PhD in cultural studies, graduating in 2017.

“Nothing against break dancing by the way. By all means it’s a fair recreational activity, but that’s it. It shouldn’t be subsidised.”

Senator Gerard Rennick has blasted Raygun. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Raygun is a lecturer at Sydney’s Macquarie University in the Department of Media, Communications, Creative Arts, Language and Literature.

She is a practising breaker and goes by the name of ‘Raygun’. She was the Australian Breaking Association top ranked bgirl in 2020 and 2021. She won the Oceania Breaking Championships in 2023.

In 2023, she conducted a research project that reported that “a knowledge circle will come together for this research drawn from across Sydney Street Dance forms/communities.”

“The joint conversations will be convened by Rachael Gunn (Raygun,’’ the project says.

(She) will undertake desk research alongside on the ground research (physical scouting and encounters with spaces) as well as drawing together ‘reports’ from knowledge circle members and invited guest contributors from arts and business communities.

“An urban form, with a DIY ethos, and created bymarginalisedd communities it is often under-valued by those within formal arts, government and financial structures. At the same time, it isusedd widely in youth work, in the commercial arts sector, in advertising and in promotional events.”

Prime MinisterAnthony Albanesee has applauded her. Picture: Elsa/Getty Images

But Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has applauded Dr Gunn’s participation was “in the Australian tradition of people having a go”:

“The Olympics is about people participating in sport – that’s a good thing. And Raygun had a crack, good on her, and a big shout-out to her,’’ he said.

“That is in the Australian tradition of people having a go. She’s had a go representing our country and that’s a good thing.

“One of the things that I hope happens as a result of our magnificent performance of these athletes, the best performance in any Olympics ever, is that these young people watching … they’re watching like other young people and thinking, “You know what? Brisbane 2032 – I could have a go there”.

Mr Albanese said it was important to get people off their phones and into sport.

“Doesn’t matter what people are doing, it’s a good thing that they’re participating in sport. It’s good for their physical health, but also so important for their mental health as well. And I think that is the message of the Olympic spirit.”

The Australian athletes will arrive back in Sydney at 7am on Wednesday, with the PM waiting to welcome them.