Barnaby Joyce Would Like You To Know He Is Definitely Not In The Albanian Mafia
'A classic [rumour] which is ridiculous is that I'm in the Albanian mafia. It's not true."
Barnaby Joyce would like everyone to know that he’s definitely not in the Albanian mafia.
You know, the classic rumour that the former deputy PM is actually low-key running with mobsters from a small Balkan country? Oh, you haven’t heard that one?
According to Barnaby it’s one of the classic rumours floating around about him, only it seems he’s the only one who’s heard it before.
Literally had never heard that allegation until he brought it up. Now I’m thinking he has to be in it
— e l i a n (@Stigmatronix) February 17, 2020
Before denying the non-existent rumour, Barnaby was actually making an interesting point about the impact online platforms like Google and Facebook have had on journalism. The Sydney Morning Herald interview took a turn when he started talking about some of the fake news he’s been the subject of over the years.
“A classic one which is ridiculous is that I’m in the Albanian mafia. It’s not true,” he said.
ABSOLUTELY NOBODY:
BARNABY JOYCE: I am NOT involved with the Albanian mafia.
— Matt Burke (@matttburke) February 16, 2020
I am also not a member of the Albanian mafia. Felt like I should put that out there in case anyone thought I, not a mafia person, might be a member of the Albanian mafia. happy to clarify further if needed
— benjamin (total ho for bong joon) (@BenCreelman) February 16, 2020
The Albanian Mafia has released a statement backing Mr Joyce’s denial.
— Luke (@LukeLukef) February 16, 2020
Glad we were able to clear that up.
Interestingly enough, in 2015 a News Corp investigation claimed that Balkan-based gangs had “entrenched infiltration” of almost every level of Australian society.
Earlier in his interview, Barnaby was advocating for digital platforms like Facebook and Google to employ their own journalists and produce their own content, or get hit with a levy to fund investigative journalism.
“There has to be some investment in journalism. Otherwise what we’re going to see is radio will survive because [it’s] hands free, TV will go to Married at First Sight and other things, and then Netflix will muscle them out, and papers will go broke,” he said.
“The vast majority of your advertising revenue is being ripped off you and sent to Google and sent to Facebook and sent to Twitter and sent to Reddit or whatever. As you slowly go broke, and you will, it [journalism] is going to be replaced with this very noxious peripheral echo chamber.”