South Australian One Nation leader Cory Bernardi has reportedly been required to publicly stand beside, smile at, and occasionally acknowledge the existence of his own colleague Jason Virgo, the openly gay member for MacKillop whose maiden speech caused several One Nation supporters to discover urgent reasons to step outside.
The visible discomfort (Aboriginal observers have noted) is roughly the same energy Mr Bernardi displays at any function where a Welcome to Country is performed.
“It’s the same face” said one mob commentator. “It’s the ‘I am being polite about something I would publicly campaign against tomorrow morning’ face. He’s good at it. Decades of practice.”
Mr Bernardi, who has spent the better part of his career describing both gay relationships and Aboriginal sovereignty as threats to Australian common sense, will reportedly continue working alongside Mr Virgo “for the betterment of One Nation” – a phrase mob have interpreted to mean “until the next preselection cycle.”
“This is the entire reconciliation industry summarised in one parliamentary handshake” the commentator added. “Smile for the photo. Vote against them on Wednesday. Tell the Sunday paper you’ve always supported them, actually.”
It is understood Mr Bernardi was offered a brief Welcome to Country at the start of the parliamentary year and politely declined, citing what aides described as “an ongoing common sense allergy.”
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