The National Party treated Canberra’s press gallery to barbecued prawns and crocodile meat on Tuesday in what party leader David Littleproud joked was a “peace offering to the fourth estate”.
Ex-leader Barnaby Joyce wore an apron over his blue shirt and tie while flipping prawns on a hotplate, standing next to the event’s organiser, Senator Matt Canavan, who kept his suit jacket on under his apron.
That might have been a smart move, given the temperature in Parliament House’s Senate courtyard would hardly have topped 14C and there was a cold wind blowing.
“We’ve learnt our lesson. We’re going to have it in summer next year,” Canavan told the crowd, which included journalists from the ABC, News Corp, AAP, The Canberra Times and Guardian Australia.
Even Opposition Leader Peter Dutton showed up towards the end, although he didn’t appear to try the food.
He spoke briefly and thanked the food suppliers — which included Urangan Fisheries, Sydney Fish Market and Koorana Crocodile Farm — and spoke about the value of the fishing (and reptile farming) industry.
“Many of us are from electorates where these jobs exist, where this industry thrives, and the sustainable practices and way in which the Australian seafood industry operates in a responsible way is something we should be very proud of,” Dutton said.
Crikey understands crocodile is an acquired taste.
Would you rather crocodile or Peter Dutton on a function’s menu? Let us know by writing to letters@crikey.com.au. Please include your full name to be considered for publication. We reserve the right to edit for length and clarity.
Any function hosted by the National Party boys would ensure my loss of appetite regardless of what they were serving.
Anyway, why do they need a ‘peace offering’ to the media, they get an easy ride from what I observe. Canavan, in particular, seems to be omnipresent on Nine’s ‘Today’ breakfast show. He always guarantees a change of channel.
From my experience, crocodile takes on the taste of the food given. So if chicken is the main food source, chicken is the flavour. It has also been described as tasting like pork, which may indicate wild pigs as a predominant food source. I am not aware of anybody suggesting crocodile tastes like National Party MP’s, which might indicate that crocodiles do have taste.
Yes, fishy pork is my recollection of crocodile. Loved your last line.
Perhaps, as with cane toads, they’ve learned from long experience that they are toxic and best avoided?
Barnaby flipping prawns…what a goose!
I don’t buy salmon. David Suzuki years ago had doco on salmon farms. Richard Flanagan also had recent publication of Tasmanian farms. The sponsors/food donors don’t care about environmental damage to our waters etc. Its always the profit.
Free meal of kangaroo and prawns for media? What for? To make politicians appear more like you/neighbour in bbq setting?
How would you know it was Canavan if he wasn’t wearing hi-viz and coal dust smudge?