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Sunrise host Nat Barr has been left stunned by an insult live on-air, prompting her to tell one guest to “wash your mouth out”.
The exchange happened during a Hot Topics segment with political editor Samantha Maiden and journalist Justin Smith on Tuesday’s show.
The trio were discussing new calls to make New Zealand a state of Australia. Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce has thrown his support behind the controversial idea, which was first raised by an outgoing member of New Zealand’s Labor government.
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Addressing the issue, Smith told Nat that it was presumptuous to think New Zealand residents would support this.
“It sort of makes the assumption here that people in New Zealand actually want to be Australian doesn’t it?” he said.
“If I was in New Zealand, I think I’d feel pretty insulted just by the mere suggestion.
“And imagine how the indigenous people would feel in New Zealand — they’ve been taken over by one lot, and we’ll get another lot in there to take us over.
“Thankfully, we can joke about it because it’ll never happen.”
Maiden agreed that “perhaps New Zealanders might be not that interested in joining us”.
She then shared a controversial joke about Kiwis, saying: “In the ‘70s, we could make terrible jokes about the fact that they wanted to come over here and get the dole – but we’re not allowed to say that anymore, so I won’t.”
Reacting to the jibe, Nat said: “Sam, wash your mouth out.”
She then quickly led into the next segment, saying: “We’re moving on fast.”
Earlier in the segment, Nat noted that Joyce may have ulterior motives for supporting the move to make New Zealand a state of Australia.
“Barnaby Joyce, of course, was famously forced to quit as deputy prime minister in 2017 for being a dual New Zealand citizen,” she said. “This would help people like him out.”
Maiden agreed, saying: “Yeah, I mean, that’s one way to fix a constitutional problem, isn’t it?”
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