Nats MP sorry for family violence joke

Nationals whip Damien Drum has apologised for telling a joke about a man shooting his wife, just hours after the government unveiled its $3bn women’s safety package in Tuesday night’s Budget.

Damien Drum, Nationals' member presumed to have won the federal seat of Murray in the 2016 election.

Nationals whip Damien Drum has apologised for telling a joke about a man shooting his wife, just hours after the government unveiled its $3bn women’s safety package in Tuesday night’s Budget.

Mr Drum made the joke during a speech at a post-budget dinner. He told The Australian he turned to the “tried and tested” family violence gag he had used “at least 15 times” after his early material about the Swedish Prime Minister fell flat.

In the joke, a man murders his wife and neighbour in a fit of rage after mistakenly thinking the pair are having an affair, when the neighbour sends a text confessing to sharing his wife “day and night”.

Upon killing the pair the man checks his phone to discover another text message where the neighbour explains his phone had autocorrected and he had meant internet Wi-Fi and not wife. A similar joke was shared on the website Reddit in 2014.

The Australian has spoken to people present at the fundraiser, who said that while some in the crowd laughed, there were many that felt uncomfortable given the cultural reckoning Canberra is currently facing over its treatment of women.

Mr Drum told The Australian that he was sorry if anyone took offence, but didn‘t think the joke was “that bad” because it had been “trialled before”.

It’s understood Drum also told the joke at a Nationals fundraising event in Echuca, Victoria, last Friday, where there were both male and female party members in the room.

The 60-year-old said he didn’t ever want to be seen as a “bald, old white guy” who “doesn’t quite get the times” but didn’t want cultural change to be at the expense of Australians losing their ability to have a laugh.

He’s promised not to make the joke again.

Drum provided The Australian with the full text of his speech, in a bid to offer context.

“‘Hi, Max. This is Richard, next door. I‘ve been riddled with guilt for a few months and have been trying to get up the courage to tell you face-to-face. When you’re not around, I’ve been sharing your wife, day and night, probably much more than you. I haven’t been getting it at home recently. I know that’s no excuse. The temptation was just too great. I can’t live with the guilt & hope you’ll accept my sincere apology and forgive me. Please suggest a fee for usage and I’ll pay you. Richard.’”

“Max, feeling enraged and betrayed, grabbed his gun, went next door, and shot Richard dead. He returned home, shot his wife, poured himself a stiff drink and sat down on the sofa. Max then looked at his phone and discovered a second text message from Richard.”

“‘Hi, Max. Richard here again. Sorry about the typo on my last text. I assume you figured it out and noticed that the darned Spell-Check had changed “Wi-Fi” to ”wife.” Technology, huh? It‘ll be the death of us all.’”