Grace Tame: If your disdain for the PM is so great why go?

Grace Tame appears visibly uncomfortable as she stands for a picture with Scott Morrison. Picture: Gary Ramage/NCA NewsWire.

The footage of Grace Tame meeting the Prime Minister at his residence in the nation’s capital for a reception today was embarrassing, for her that is.

She was ungracious, rude and childish, refusing to smile for the cameras, barely acknowledging his existence when standing next to him. The footage tells the story free of overstatement.

She didn’t have to play the role of court jester, or be a fake. Just be a decent human being, that’s all. If that wasn’t possible, why bother to attend at all? At his Canberra house no less. It isn’t like the person who lives there wasn’t going to be there.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his wife Jenny and Grace Tame at the 2022 Australian of the Year Finalists Morning Tea, at the Lodge in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

The pair met at the 2022 Australian of the Year finalists morning tea. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

If your disdain for the man is so great (understandable perhaps) that you can’t even muster basic and common courtesy, then just don’t go. That would be reasonable. Plenty of people would understand. It would cause a stir, but justifiably so given her criticisms of the PM. But acting like a child displaying a lack of basic manners when coming face to face with him in a meet and greet was unbecoming and unnecessary.

That’s the case whether she was caught by surprise or deliberately played up to the cameras, hoping for attention such as this. To excite the mob on social media, for example. Before the dogs bark and the caravan moves on to the new Australian of the Year.

Yes the cameras were there and no doubt it suited Scott Morrison to smile for them and congratulate Ms Tame on her recent engagement. He has an election soon remember. Perhaps she was worried he’d use a smiling photo of them together on the campaign trail. I highly doubt that, but if he tried that on tweet up a storm and condemn him. That would be reasonable.

But to look as forlorn as she did in response, rudely and deliberately looking away from the photographer, was an act of juvenile dissent. The video of the exchange leaves no doubt about what happened. This isn’t a case of making a mountain out of a mole hill. It was brazen and not for virtuous reasons.

Me after two whole days in the capital: pic.twitter.com/ScNQzioz6B

— Grace Tame (@TamePunk) January 24, 2022

If she was caught by surprise that is surprisingly naive for someone who has used her year as Australian of the Year to tactically succeed in drawing so much attention to her worthy cause.

The only caveat to my criticism of the outgoing Australians of the Year is if she was tricked into the happy snap moment. For example, if as a well known critic of the PM she flagged before attending the event at his house that she did not want to be photographed with him, nor forced to shake his hand on arrival, but she was manoeuvred into doing so against her will. Having received an assurance she would not be put in that position.

As Scott Morrison addressed the crowd Grace Tame did not look impressed. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

If that is what happened, power to Grace Tame. Apologies for all the criticisms above. Her actions make sense and were appropriate. Anything short of that, however, and she has proven herself the lesser person on this occasion, which is quite a feat.

Complaining about Morrison’s response to sexual abuse and sexual harassment allegations and necessary law reform is one thing. I don’t disagree with much of what she’s had to say. Her use of his first name when addressing him, given Morrison’s tendency to use women’s first names all the time, is also a good retort.

Tame’s style and actions have a place in modern Australia, as polarising as they may be at times.

But if her anger on these various fronts is such that she can’t even bring herself to look at the PM and shake his hand in the way people have done throughout time, at an event at his house, then avoid finding yourself in such a situation and just don’t attend. Simple. That of itself sends a powerful message without being childishly rude and demeaning yourself.

But you can’t do that in front of the cameras and receive mob acclaim on social media I guess.

Peter van Onselen is the political editor at Network 10 and a professor of politics and public policy at the University of Western Australia and Griffith University.