Peter Dutton has responded to a photo showing him awkwardly eating a dagwood dog at Brisbane’s Ekka, admitting “there is no good angle”.
The Opposition Leader was spotted tearing into the iconic Aussie snack at Queensland’s annual agricultural show on Wednesday.
He was pictured armed with three dagwood dogs before taking a large mouthful of the tomato sauce-laden battered sausage.
But Mr Dutton revealed the images caused quite a stir once posted online as he was bombarded with text messages from friends.
“Most of my mates actually were pretty rapid-fire texting me like, ‘WTF’,” Mr Dutton told 2Day FM radio.
“But anyway, what do you do?”
Mr Dutton compared the incident to Bill Shorten’s infamous 2016 photo showing the former Labor leader eating a sausage sizzle from the middle.
“With the cameras there, I mean you can’t eat it from the side because the sauce drips off and you do a Bill Shorten… so it leaves one angle and it’s not a great one,” Mr Dutton joked.
“There is no good angle, so you just accept your fate, right?
“But chewing from the side was definitely not an option.”
Mr Dutton is one of many politicians caught awkwardly eating on camera.
In 2019, former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull was ridiculed after he was photographed eating a meat pie with a knife and fork.
His predecessor Tony Abbott left Australians scratching their heads when he was filmed in 2015 biting into a raw onion with its skin on.
Meanwhile, Mr Shorten recently opened up about his unorthodox method of eating a sausage sizzle.
“Listen, I just want to clear up the great scandal of the 2016 election,” he told Today in May.
“The bread roll which I ate from the middle, you would have needed to have the jaws of, you know, a great white to eat it from the end.
As throngs of people flock to the Ekka showgrounds, authorities are concerned about a potential spike in COVID-19 and influenza cases in the Queensland community.
A string of illnesses remain in the community with COVID cases still high, the flu season not yet over and cases of monkeypox being reported interstate.
With some 1,300 head of cattle at the showgrounds, health authorities have also added a potentially devastating foot-and-mouth-disease outbreak to their list of concerns, though the risk remains low.
Back after a two-year COVID-induced hiatus, Ekka crowds have exceeded expectations with people steadily streaming through the gates.
Virologist Lara Herrero said the Ekka event would inevitably lead to a spike in transmission of both COVID and the flu.
“I have absolutely no doubt there will be an increase in transmission for an event like that — it’s simple mathematics,” she said.
Lara Herrero says the Ekka is likely to cause a jump in cases. (Supplied: Griffith University)
So how can you safely hit the Ekka to devour a dagwood dog without getting sick?
Here are Dr Herrero’s five key pieces of advice:
1. Don’t get slack
Dr Herrero reminded those hitting the show to stay vigilant by employing all the usual tactics.
“Monitor for any symptoms at all,” she said.
“Try your best to keep that 1.5 meters of social distancing where you can.
“Bring your own alcohol wipes and hand sanitiser.
“Avoid shaking hands and hugging — I would still opt to first bump or wave.”
2. Wear a mask
Queenslanders at Brisbane’s Ekka Show — some masked up and others not.(ABC News: Marton Dobras)
You know the drill.
Free masks will be available upon entry to the showgrounds. If in doubt, mask up.
Queensland Agriculture Minister Mark Furner said he was impressed with the “reasonable amount of people wearing a mask”.
“Bring your mask along or get one on entry, make sure your protected and you’ll have no issues,” he said.
Queensland Health has encouraged everyone at the Ekka to wear a face mask, “not only for themselves but for every other person who is there to celebrate safely”.
Dr Herrero said she had no doubt people who live in the regions that come to the Ekka and return home to regional and rural areas will bring infection back with them.
“We have more cases in the city because we have more people, we’re living in a high-density community with more cases.
“So by sheer numbers, I have no doubt transmission on the regions will go up.
“It’s a good idea for those people returning to regional and remote areas to wear a mask for 24-48 hours to stop transmission to vulnerable people”
3. Stay away if unwell
“The Ekka is all about community spirit so if you have any symptoms, no matter how mild, have a bit of community spirit and stay at home,” Dr Herrero said.
Mr Furner advised anyone feeling under the weather to stay well away from the showgrounds, get tested and isolate.
“We don’t want people coming here spreading illness, whether it be the flu or COVID,” he said.
“Keep away if you’re feeling unwell and get tested.”
4. Wash your shoes and clothes of foreign dirt
Ekka show visitors should maintain good hand hygiene when playing with the agricultural animals amid fears of a foot-and-mouth-disease outbreak.(ABC News: Marton Dobras)
The Ekka show is the largest showing of stud beef in the southern hemisphere with some 1,300 head of cattle at the showgrounds.
This has sparked fears of a foot-and-mouth-disease outbreak that could cost the industry an estimated $80 billion.
Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Wyatt estimated there was an 11.6 per cent risk of a potentially devastating outbreak occurring which would trigger a 72-hour national livestock standstill and longer-term movement controls on animals.
A preventive task force has been established with border security on-site.
Dr Herrero strongly advised people who live in agricultural areas to wash their shoes and clothes of dirt or mud from any other agricultural region to avoid an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.
With one case of monkeypox recorded in Queensland, authorities are also asking patrons to stay vigilant and monitor for symptoms.
5. Get vaccinated
Monkeypox vaccine is not yet available to the Australian public.(Reuters: Given Ruvic)
With a little more than three weeks of winter remaining, most of you would have had your COVID and flu vaccines by now.
thefourth COVID vaccineor “winter shot” is available for all Australians over the age of 30, as well as:
People aged 16 years and above who are severely immunocompromised
People aged 16 years and above who have a medical condition that increases the risk of severe COVID-19 illness
People aged 16 years and above who have disabilities with significant, complex, or multiple health issues, which increase the risk of poor outcomes from COVID-19 infection.
Second booster shots are available through GPs and participating pharmacies throughout Queensland.
You can book online or call your GP to check if they accept walk-ins.
You can also find your nearest participating GP or pharmacy using the vaccine clinic finder.
Find out where you can get a flu vaccine here.
As for monkeypox, Health Minister Mark Butler said Australia had secured 450,000 doses of vaccine, which is set to arrive early this week at the latest.
Each year children flock to Brisbane’s Ekka to check out the brightly colored show bags filled with treats, toys and trinkets — a far cry from the sample bags of old.
As the Ekka kicks off for another year, the Queensland Museum has unearthed some of the state’s oldest show bags.
They originated when the Royal Brisbane Show allowed stall holders to give away free samples in 1902 — the very first one held coal.
“It was the earliest sample bag on record, and that piece of coal was worth a lot at the time and many were able to use the coal at home,” said Tess Shingles, the museum’s acting assistant curator for Queensland stories.
“It must have been a big hit, as the tradition of the show bag has continued to this day.”
Two girls holding sample bags at the RNA showgrounds in 1946.(Supplied: John Oxley Library, State Library of Qld)
Sample bags vs. show bags
Sample bags were originally filled with produce and edible items that were made and manufactured in Queensland.
“Technically the sample bags were the precursor to the show bags and were originally paper bags,” Ms Shingles said.
“The plastic bags came in during the 1970s and at that time they switched to being more commercial and more about pop culture.”
The Bertie Beatle bag remains a show-goer favorite to this day after first appearing in Queensland in 1963.
Bertie Beatle first appeared in the Hoadley’s sample bag.(ABC Radio Brisbane: Jessica Hinchliffe)
“Bertie Beatle was originally created to compete with Freddo frog,” Ms Shingles said.
“The same company was making Violet Crumbles so they would use the by-product of the honeycomb in the Bertie Beatles.
“Bertie then featured in sample bags for Hoadley’s before becoming a stand-alone bag.”
Another popular sample bag in the 1960s was the Rosella bag, which highlighted pickled products and the quality of its condiments.
“The bag showed people how the pickling process happened and why their particular products were safe and trusted,” Ms Shingles said.
The Rosella sample bags featured pickles and condiments.(ABC Radio Brisbane: Kate O’Toole)
Some of the first toys that appeared in the bags were cardboard pistols that would fire rubber bands.
“The toys were often secondary in the early days to the confectionary and food; many of the toys would be put together when families got home from the show.”
Many of the snack food sample bags claimed to be nutritional for children and were endorsed by health professionals.
“The Twisties bag is funny as it was advertised as the healthy snack and would use a photo of the strongman holding the Twisties,” Ms Shingles said.
“A leaflet was also included in that bag saying that Twisties were recommended by dentists as they were safeguarding children’s teeth and should be on every tuckshop menu.”
Bags for chips were often displayed as healthy and endorsed by doctors and dentists.(ABC Radio Brisbane: Kate O’Toole)
Keeping fine art history alive
The museum has also collected Ekka fine art entries from as far back as 1916 featuring button work, embroidery and knitting.
“One of the most iconic pieces is a framed work by a button maker called John Ward, who entered an artwork in 1916 made up of buttons and carved pearl shell from the Torres Strait,” Ms Shingles said.
A winning entry from 1916 used buttons and pearl shells to create coats of arms.(Supplied: Queensland Museum)
A knitted christening gown and a handmade dog called Bo Bo also feature in the collection showing the variety of entries over the decades.
“Although it didn’t win a prize, the dachshund called Bo Bo by Elise Hicks in 1972 has a special place in our collection,” Ms Shingles said.
“This part of the collection shows the skills of local Queenslanders and that’s why we keep them as they were exhibited.”
A handmade dog was an entry in the fine arts competition in 1972.(ABC Radio Brisbane: Jessica Hinchliffe)
While fears of foot-and-mouth disease loom over the Ekka, organizers and breeders say “very comprehensive” plans are in place to limit risk.
Cattle began arriving yesterday for the stud beef competition, the largest annual showing of stud beef in the southern hemisphere.
Around 1,300 head of cattle are expected to attend the show, which runs from August 6 to 14.
Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland (RNA) chief executive Brendan Christou said organizers were working closely with authorities.
The threat of FMD has not stopped many from bringing cattle to the show.(ABC News: Elizabeth Cramsie )
“Biosecurity Queensland will be here, onsite, throughout the show and we have our own vet committee that looks at all of those things as well,” he said.
Mr Christou said there were a range of measures being taken, including ensuring animals were healthy before their arrival, separation of breeds and use of foot baths.
“It is very comprehensive,” he said.
‘Very minimal risk’
However, for all the precautions, some breeders are still unwilling to take the risk.
Breeder Bronwyn Betts will be missing her first Ekka in more than a decade
“We were just concerned about the risk of foot-and-mouth disease, notwithstanding that that risk is low. The potential consequences can be quite dire,” she said.
Bronwyn Betts is sitting out the Ekka this year.(ABC news: Elizabeth Pickering)
Ms Betts said the Ekka and shows like it brought greater risk than other sales meet-ups because of the large presence of the public.
“Just in terms of the demographics of people [who] are there. At a sale, you’re largely going to get cattle people that are going to be coming in from cattle properties. They’ll be cognisant of foot-and-mouth [risk] and they will have taken measures,” she said.
“But that’s different from a show where there’s larger numbers of [the] public [who] are entering into an area, and they may well include some people [who] have recently returned from the popular holiday destination of Bali.
“I think there needs to be a lot more public education about what foot-and-mouth disease is, how it enters our country but, also, once it does, how it moves around, because the reality is that people play a big role in that.”
At the Ekka, cattle breeder Jason Childs said he felt enough precautions were being taken.
“Foot and mouth has been around the world for a long time and it hasn’t managed to get into Australia yet and it’s not in Australia yet,” he said.
“I think the risk here is very, very minimal.”
What is foot-and-mouth disease?
Foot and mouth (FMD) affects cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle, pigs, goats and deer.
It causes fever and painful blisters on the animals’ tongues and hooves, which can make animals lick.
While Australia has been FMD-free for more than 100 years, the disease was detected in Indonesia in May and, by July, it had spread to Bali, sparking concerns it could be brought back by tourists.
It is not dangerous to humans, but people can facilitate the spread through products containing fragments of the disease or through dirty clothes and footwear.
FMD causes blisters on the tongues of infected animals.(Supplied: Agriculture Victoria)
FMD also spreads through close contact between animals and can be carried short distances by wind.
An outbreak in Australia would likely lead to mass culls of infected animals. It would also rob the country of its status as being free of FMD, causing major disruption to the meat and livestock trade.
The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) estimates an outbreak could cost the country $80 billion over 10 years.
People arriving on flights from Indonesia are asked to walk on citric acid mats to kill the FMD virus.(Supplied: Perth Airport)
After Indonesia’s outbreak spread to Bali, the federal government introduced extra measures at airports to stop it spreading to Australia.
All travelers from Indonesia must walk on sanitation mats containing citric acid to kill the virus, biosecurity detectors dogs have been deployed in airports in Darwin and Cairns to check imported goods, and 18 extra biosecurity staff are at airports and postal centers around Australia.
Earlier this month, some pork products were removed from supermarket shelves after viral fragments of FMD were found during testing.
So far, the government has committed $14 million to manage outbreaks of FMD and lumpy skin disease in Indonesia, on top of $1.5 million to supply vaccines.
