Independent, anti-vaccine mandate candidate clashes with Melbourne radio host Neil Mitchell

An independent candidate has launched into a tirade on social media after a fiery clash erupted when he was interviewed by Melbourne radio host Neil Mitchell.

An independent candidate from Victoria has launched into a tirade on social media after a fiery clash erupted when he was interviewed by Melbourne radio host Neil Mitchell.

Morgan Jonas, who gathered a large following as a prominent anti-lockdown, anti-vaccine mandate campaigner throughout 2021 and is engaged to Reignite Democracy Australia founder Monica Smit, told followers the 3AW host is an “arrogant loser”.

In a post on his Facebook page, Jonas wrote that Mitchell had insulted him by asking if he was responsible for “urinating on the Shrine of Remembrance” during anti-vaccine mandate protests last September.

“Yesterday Neil Mitchell asked me if I was responsible for ‘urinating on the shrine’,” Jonas wrote on Wednesday.

“I know that Neil is unkind at the best of times, but I was actually shocked he would say such a thing. It really highlighted how low he is willing to go in order to take his guests off guard.”

Anti-vax leader Monica Smit with her partner Morgan Jonas after her release on bail.

Jonas continued, telling followers the question was a “cheap tactic” and “utterly disgraceful”.

“Neil, here’s the truth: You’re an arrogant loser and nobody respects you. The best thing you can do is get off the air and stop disgracing yourself. Your career is done.”

The comments followed a seven-minute interview where the pair quickly came to blows and refused to let the other speak.

“Morgan Jonas, good morning,” Mitchell began.

“G’day Neil, how come you’re calling all these independents ‘wackos’?,” Jonas asked. “That’s not very nice. What about these major parties? I reckon they’re the wackos.”

Jonas said he was campaigning on a platform to help farmers and keep the government accountable because “it is too big and involved in too many areas of our lives”.

He began to tell Mitchell he was “sick and tired of the woke agendas, especially in classrooms” and that he was “sick and tired of the jab mandates”.

Mitchell asked Jonas specifically what he planned to do to help farmers, to which the candidate responded “we need good independents and people who are on the side of freedom in the Senate”.

Neil Mitchell told Morgan Jonas he was a “smart-arse talking garbage”. Picture: Facebook

Mitchell tried to interject but Jonas would not let the host get a word in.

Jonas told him he was “just like a politician already” and “ignoring the question”.

“You are wasting our time,” Mitchell said.

“No I’m not wasting anyone’s time, people want to hear from independents, Neil,” Jonas said.

Mitchell responded: “Not if they talk this sort of garbage.”

Jonas told him he was “the bloke who has been attacking people for protesting during lockdowns” and asked “where were you during lockdown?”

Mitchell asked him if he was a lockdown protester.

“Were you urinating on the Shrine?” Mitchell asked.

“What?” Jonas shot back. “Is there any proof that a protester urinated on the Shrine or are you just making stuff up?”

Mitchell asked again. “Did you protest at the Shrine?”

“I’ve been at the Shrine during protests,” Jonas said. “It’s easy to poke fun at people who have lost their jobs when you’re sitting pretty.”

He continued: “You abuse people every day Neil, so it’s about time somebody gave it back to you. Australians need a bit of fire. They’re sick of the major parties. They’re sick of the mainstream media.”

Mitchell finished the interview by telling Jonas: “I think you’re just a smart-arse talking garbage to be frank and the people who vote for you are as silly as you are.”

Jonas severed ties last month with Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party three weeks after he was formally endorsed as a candidate.

The combat sports equipment salesman and “MCJ Report” blogger announced to his 95,000 Facebook followers that his plans had changed.

“Yesterday I filed my written resignation with the UAP thus withdrawing my nomination,” Mr Jonas wrote.

“This was not a decision I made lightly, but after much thought and discussion with my core team … I am confident it’s the right thing to do.”

Jonas’s partner Ms Smit, 33, was charged with two counts of incitement last year in relation to protests held in Melbourne on August 11 and 21, during the state’s sixth lockdown.”

Originally published as Independent, anti-vaccine mandate candidate clashes with Melbourne radio host Neil Mitchell