The compilers of Media Glass House almost spilled their rumbo and cokes the other night when Nine News Queensland gave the first political bite on the issue of China looking set to lift its ban on Aussie wines to Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.

That’s him, above. Yes, the guy who used to be a senior ministerial colleague of then Prime Minister Scott Morrison who thought it was a good idea to play international bad cop and demand that China fess up to its role in the spread of Covid-19.

The result of that chest-thumping stupidity was China banning a whole heap of Aussie primary produce imports worth billions of dollars. Well done, Smoko!

Since its election 22 months ago, the Albanese Government has been working hard to reverse those very punitive tariffs. Some have already been lifted; wine looks like following suit in some days time.

So, who should have gotten first bite of the cherry on this one crucial issue? Labor’s Minister for Trade Don Farrell who had put in the hard yards to repair the damage to the China relationship after Morrison’s stupid heroics?

No, It was Dutton, mouthing some meaningless platitudes about how great it would be if the ban caused solely and wholly by his side of politics was lifted.

Even though we mentioned Nine News Queensland at the start of this column as that’s where we spotted this sneaky little example of pro-LNP bias, we accept there’s a good chance the story was packaged down south.

Either way, we’d really be interested to know whether the network’s national political editor Charles Croucher saw how his package was presented, and whether he was happy with the lead role given to Peter Dutton.

Meanwhile, the Labor government will continue to work hard on having other remaining tariffs lifted – on rock lobster and some Australian meatworks.

We have no doubt Channel Nine News will have Dutton’s mobile on speed dial for another starring role as Labor and Farrell (and Penny Wong today in face-to-face talks with the Chinese foreign minister in Canberra) finally rule a line under Morrison’s bull-in-a-china shop buffoonery.

Want to be alerted immediately a new blog hits Australia’s longest running and most offensive satire site? Simply click on the Follow sign or the link below to be emailed new yarns the moment they are uploaded! The very second we go far too far – and trust us we will – you can then quickly unfollow via the three dots!

Follow The Bug Online on WordPress.com