ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact
Just days after being made Scott Morrison’s special envoy on Indigenous Affairs, Tony Abbott has received his Quarantine Welfare Basics Card from the programmes biggest proponent, Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest.
At a special afternoon press conference in Canberra, the billionaire and the former prime minister embraced before Twiggy palmed Tony the cashless debit card.
“Now don’t you go trying to spend all this on smokes and piss!” laughed Twiggy as the rattle of camera shutters filled the room.
“Oh! I’ll try not to! Just bread, milk and cordial for this busted old boardrider!” replied Abbott.
“I’m running on for Walgett tomorrow at the Koori Knockout so I’ll be taking it easy tonight!”
Forrest then made a jibe at the Howard-era Health Minister for playing rugby league, a game for thugs and lowlifes, when he could be playing halfback for a team in his rogue rugby union competition.
The pair of old friends decided to take a number of questions from the growing crowd of reporters.
A popular, bright and naively left-wing journalist from the ABC asked them both a detailed question about the possible ramifications of the Welfare Quarantine Basic Card, to which Mr Abbott said he was committed to working with Scott Morrison, while Twiggy decided to play 8 Ball pool on his cracked iPhone 4S.
“Hey, ah, if you want a sure bet. Roosters over the Eels tomorrow. My Manly boys are not spoon material. They are good guys,” said Abbott.
Twiggy agreed and they left.
More to come.
