Watch Adam Bandt Slam A Journo Over Yet Another ‘Gotcha’ Question

The leader of The Greens Adam Bandt has sensationally slammed a journalist over yet another “gotcha” question after three days of every press conference feeling like a pop quiz.

In the question time following his National Press Club address, Bandt was questioned by the Australian Financial Review’s Ron Mizen over the wage price index (WPI).

“Google it, mate. I am sick… If you want to know why people are turning off politics, it’s because of what happens when you have an election that increasingly becomes this basic fact-checking exercise between a government that deserves to be turfed out and an opposition that’s got no vision. This is what happens,” said Bandt.

“Elections should be about a contest of ideas. Politics should be about reaching for the stars and offering a better society and instead, there are these questions that are asked about ‘can you tell us this particular stat’ or ‘can you tell us that particular stat’ and those questions are designed to show that politicians are somehow out of touch and not representative of everyday people.”

Greens leader Adam Bandt has had enough of "gotcha" questions at #NPC. #AusVotes @SBSNews pic.twitter.com/e9pFzXcXKK

— Naveen Razik (@naveenjrazik) April 13, 2022

“Well news flash: most of the people in Canberra are on six-figure salaries, just passing time until they go out and work for the coal or gas corporations and go and get a six or seven-figure lobbying job. Do you know what would be a better way of showing that politicians are in touch with everyday people?

“It would be passing laws that lift minimum wage, it would be making dental and mental into medicare. It would be making sure that we wipe student debt and build affordable houses.”

Bandt’s comments come after Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese was grilled earlier this week on the first official day of the election campaign for getting figures relating to the unemployment and cash rates in Australia. Albanese quickly apologised for the mistake, but has been repeatedly been grilled about it ever since.

“Earlier today I made a mistake. I’m human. But when I make a mistake, I’ll fess up to it, and I’ll set about correcting that mistake,” Albanese said. “I won’t blame someone else, I’ll accept responsibility. That’s what leaders do.”