Peter Dutton has mocked new Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather after he was criticized over not wearing a tie in Parliament with the Liberal leader declaring: “I’m just happy that the Greens were wearing shoes”.
Mr Chandler-Mather, 30, was preparing to ask a question about public housing on Wednesday when he was cut off by furious Nationals MP Pat Conaghan who called for a point of order saying: “I draw your attention to the state of undress of the member”.
Mr Conaghan later mocked the new MP further in a statement and said: “This is not a barbecue”.
“This is Question Time in the Australian Parliament. What next, board shorts and thongs? Maybe a onesie in winter,” he said.
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The Opposition Leader also weighed in on the tit-for-tat and poked fun at the Greens over the fashion choice.
“Well, I’m just happy that the Greens were wearing shoes,” Mr Dutton told Nine’s Today Show on Friday.
“I think that is a really very significant step forward. So, that was great.
“Sometimes we get away with shorts if we are on set, but, I mean, you guys are always well-dressed and you set the standard.
“We just want to follow the media celebrities. We are, as you know, we are in the ugly people’s show business, so, what can we do?”
But both Mr Chandler-Mather and Greens leader Adam Bandt failed to find the humor in the debate given the MP was asking the Prime Minister a question on public housing at the time.
Mr Chandler-Mather took to social media to express his concern that the “Coalition care more about ties” than vulnerable Australians waiting for social housing.
He was promptly supported by the party leader who mocked the Opposition for taking issue over a tie.
“A Nationals MP who hasn’t been wearing a mask all week just got angry that Max Chandler-Mather wasn’t wearing a tie,” he wrote on Twitter.
“Yes. That’s what the Coalition is angry about.
“The political establishment are completely out of touch with the struggles of working communities.”
Speaker Milton Dick promptly dismissed Mr Conaghan’s ire over the young MPs parliamentary attire at the time and permitted the member for Griffith to continue his question.
There is no official dress code in the House of Representatives with the rule book outlining “the ultimate discretion rests with the Speaker”.
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