Time for a test ScoMo? PM breaks down in a persistent coughing fit while selling the budget on live TV
- Australia’s Federal Budget to tackle the recession was revealed on Tuesday
- Prime Minister Scott Morrison appeared in a live TV interview on Wednesday
- Mr Morrison discussed the budget but broke down into several coughing fits
- He was forced to repeatedly stifle coughs and take sips from a bottle of water
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has broken down in a coughing fit while hitting the circuit of morning television interviews to sell the new Federal Budget.
During his live interview on Sky News on Wednesday he was forced to repeatedly cough into his elbow and take sips of water.
The prime minister began noticeably wheezing while discussing the budget with Sky News anchor Kieran Gilbert.
‘This important plan for our recovery and for rebuilding the economy,’ he said, coughing.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured right with Sky News anchor Kieran Gilbert left) broke down in a coughing fit while discussing the new Federal Budget on live television
Mr Morrison (pictured with treasurer Josh Frydenberg) was selling the new budget on Wednesday when he began to stifle coughs and was forced to sip from a water bottle
‘There are swings and roundabouts on the assumptions and we’ll see how they live out in time,’ Mr Morrison explained before coughing again.
Mr Gilbert came to the prime minister’s aid and offered him some water to quell the coughing fit.
‘Let me get a bottle of water for you because you’ve had a busy 24 hours and I know what it’s like,’ Mr Gilbert said.
‘Bit of talking,’ Mr Morrison replied.
‘Exactly, when you get a frog in your throat,’ the Sky News host said.
Mr Morrison continued to become teary-eyed as he attempted to hold in the coughing fit.
‘That’s why the stimulus measures and other measures are so important,’ he began before coughing again.
Mr Gilbert also tried to steer the conversation towards state border closures before the prime minister was forced to interrupt.
The new Federal Budget, unveiled on Tuesday night, promised a series of income and business tax cuts amid Australia’s coronavirus recession (Pitt Street in Sydney pictured)
Mr Morrison asked him to ‘hold on’ before reaching down and grabbing the water bottle.
He emitted a few more forceful coughs into his elbow and continued to discuss the border restrictions with a red face.
‘I’m very sorry,’ Mr Morrison apologised.
‘It should only be based on health advice, that’s the only reason we should have any of these border restrictions.’
Mr Gilbert thanked Mr Morrison for ‘battling through the frog’ at the end of the interview and the PM responded ‘thanks for that, I’m fine now’.
The new Federal Budget, unveiled on Thursday night, promised a series of income and business tax cuts amid Australia’s worst recession since the 1930s.
A wage subsidy scheme to get young Australians back to work and two welfare cash handouts were also announced.
Mr Morrison (pictured) finished the interview red-faced and teary after his coughing fit