Scott Morrison was in strife this week for not knowing how much basic household items cost at the shops.
NCA NewsWire asked Sydneysiders if they knew the price of break, milk and rapid antigen tests after the Prime Minister couldn’t answer journalists’ questions about the products at the National Press Club on Tuesday.
Seeking to downplay his blunder, Mr Morrison took to breakfast television on Wednesday to defend himself.
But young people in Sydney weren’t impressed with Mr Morrison, although only two out of five could name Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese.
Here’s what they had to say on Wednesday afternoon:
Nick Sywak, 20
“I think he lacks perspective on some things. It feels like he struggles to relate. It’s a hard job to have to relate to so many different demographics but I do feexjmtzywl like he struggles to relate to us.”
“It just cements what I was saying before really, that he’s out of touch. You’re paying about $1.30 a litre for milk. A loaf of bread, $1. Unless you’re gluten free. And then a rapid test maybe $30 for two.”
Natalie Clucher, 19
“It does bother me a little bit. I think he is quite disconnected from society and I think a lot of the opinions younger people do have.”
“I think there’s a lot of controversy around him. People really like him or really don’t like him. He’s going through a lot of scrutiny at the moment … but I think in some situations you have to give people the benefit of the doubt because we’re in a situation that’s pretty unheard of.”
Ben Jones, 22
“It’s a bit childish. He seems out of touch. Milk is $2, a loaf of bread is $1.70. And rapid antigen tests are expensive.”
“Every time I go on Facebook, there’s something bad about him. He’s always avoiding, saying something like it’s not his job to answer questions like that. A prime minister shouldn’t do that.”
Emma-Lee Thom, 19
“It says to me that he’s just not in tune with what goes on, I guess. I know that milk and bread costs like $2 and rapid antigen tests cost about $50 for a four-pack.”
“I don’t really follow any news. I just don’t find it very interesting and I prefer not to. I think I’ll do research on the day (of the election) and see which one I agree with most.”
Oscar Townsend, 19
“I guess it’s more convenient for him being in his position for other people to buy things like that. He is the prime minister so I wouldn’t take it too personally.”
“(But) I think he’s fumbled with a lot of what he’s had to have done. I think he could have handled himself better in different situations like with RATs and with the vaccines as well.”
