Inspired by this wonderful post about normal people running into super A-list celebrities, I asked Aussies whether they had similarly random run-ins with our awesomely weird politicians.
Does anyone have similar real world interactions with Australian politicians?
1. There was that time the PM was handing out plates of pity ham.
@MarkDiStef Turnbull visited Wayside Chapel late to hand out Xmas day lunch but everyone had eaten so I accepted one of his plates of ham
2. This guy who had his pen stolen by Australia's most vocal right-wing senator.
3. Bernardi is always keen to give up some friendly, personal advice.
@MarkDiStef I was at a lunch with Corey Bernardi when I was 17 and the only thing I remember him saying to me was "don't vote greens"
4. There was this wonderful story about the former speaker.
@MarkDiStef Bronwyn Bishop turned down the tequila shots we offered her at a hotel on my 18th birthday & called my friends & I "riff-raff".
5. The NSW environment minister knows how to engage with young people.
@MarkDiStef When I was in year 12, Mark Speakman started a conversation with me by saying "so...what are your thoughts on roads?"
6. There was this awesome story about the former governor general.
7. And this one.
@MarkDiStef quentin bryce required a specific juice and needed to know the number of stairs from her car for a school assembly early 2000s
8. The late Gough Whitman spoke in more than one language, apparently!
@MarkDiStef ok , the great G. Whitlam spoke to me in fluent spanish on his return from S.A. while a danced with the fab.Margaret W.at 1 -2
9. Labor minister Anthony Albanese doesn't mind some mischief.
@MarkDiStef Albo was (trying) to throw hot chips into my mouth after Sydney community cup
10. Former Labor leader Mark Latham is a weird unit.
@MarkDiStef actually tho I was at an event and saw a hugely pissed mark latham who had tucked his suit jacket into his jeans
11. Deeply weird.
@MarkDiStef Mark Latham once told me about the best way to breed racehorses.
12. One Nation senator Pauline Hanson was a thoughtful shopper.
13. And now you know what Greens senator Larissa Waters likes to watch.
@MarkDiStef Larissa Waters used to come into the video shop I managed, before she was a senator. Super friendly, loves sci fi and action.
14. You can just imagine former Labor minister Greg Combet closing down a party
@MarkDiStef Greg combet told me to turn the music down. It was 3am.
15. Or independent senator Nick Xenophon ordering a flat white. Classic Nick.
@MarkDiStef Saw Nick Xenephon at Cibo on Rundle St in Adelaide last year. I think he ordered a flat white. He's shorter than you think.
16. Sometimes it's just great to see former Labor ministers in the wild.
@MarkDiStef I saw Lindsay Tanner at Horseland in Greensborough once. Between Xmas and NY about 15 yrs ago. We didn't talk.
17. Like this story about former foreign minister Bob Carr.
18. He has always been prompt with some advice.
@MarkDiStef Bob Carr gave me travel tips for Jackson, Mississippi (I wasn't going to Jackson)
19. And loves the gym.
@MarkDiStef Bob Carr rebuffed my request for a selfie at Fitness First on the stay the "steel cut oats" story broke
20. Seriously, everyone has a Bob Carr story.
@MarkDiStef I supervised a tree-planting event in Western Sydney where he refused advice to take the plastic pot off b4 planting the tree
21. Incredible.
@MarkDiStef I met him age ~11 in Rome and he asked if I'd read victor frankl's "man's search for meaning". You know, the holocaust memoir
22. Many pollies are really great interacting with ~normal~ people.
@MarkDiStef I had a beer with Sam Dastyari at the Mitre Tavern and asked him about Labor's chances in the election. He told me not to worry.
23. And always up for a chat.
@MarkDiStef Met my local member, Pat Conroy, at a Uni deregulation protest. Ended up discussing the merits of Peter Davison as Doctor Who.
24. Even former prime ministers.
25. You never forget meeting a former PM.
@MarkDiStef Tony Abbott once told a conference we were running for 16-18 year olds that "readers are leaders"
26. Or puking in the backseat of a ute driven by a former MP.
@MarkDiStef friend got drunk at a uni party in WA, was offered a lift by wilson tuckey in his new 4wd, got in & promptly puked *everywhere*
27. Or having the NSW premier in your DJ booth.
@MarkDiStef Mike Baird came into the DJ box at a function (pre lockout) & asked "What do you call this music?" "Disco" "That's Interesting"
28. Or having a former Labor MP cover you in coffee.
@oz_f @MarkDiStef the first time I met our local MP from 2007-13 Janelle Saffin, she spilled her cup of coffee on me
29. Or speak to you endlessly about English soccer.
@MarkDiStef i had a pub dinner with Stephen Conroy. He did not drink and we spoke mostly about Manchester United. I don't like man utd
30. The pain of having a former Labor leader stomp on your foot will stay with you.
@MarkDiStef Saw Kim Beazley at the Melb Show showbag stand when I was a kid. He stepped on my foot.
31. Politicians are fascinating to watch in the wild.
@MarkDiStef Bob Carr and Kim Beazley were in front of us in the line at Messina once and Helena was checking if he had money or not.
32. Sometimes former prime ministers don't play along.
33. This Liberal MP didn't understand how a shop works.
@MarkDiStef Danna Vale, MP for Hughes at the time, came into my shoe store and asked for a discount. She got very uppity when I said no
34. While the deputy PM appears to always be the straight-talking guy you see on TV.
@MarkDiStef I walked in to Barnaby’s office, he looked me up & down then said “you’re not here to crap on about climate change are you?”
35. This dad will never forget sticking it to a South Australian politician, over and over.
@MarkDiStef
36. Even a former PM can forget his PIN at the worst moment.
@MarkDiStef I once served Rudd in the art gallery bookshop (he was buying a catalogue) - he messed up using his EFT card.
37. This former Queensland premier rolled with the hecklers.
@MarkDiStef I was walking thru Bris CBD, some bogans recognised Peter Beattie & started yelling "ITS BIG PETE! AAAYE BIG PETE!" Pete love it
38. While the former immigration minister showed no sympathy for a bloody Aussie tragedy.
@MarkDiStef I dropped my sausage sizzle in front of Phillip ruddock and he just laughed and walked away
39. Everyone has a story, no matter how freaking weird.
@MarkDiStef bill shorten and i had a chat about strategy games and agreed that rome total war was the best in the total war series
40. So if you have one, share it in the comments.
@MarkDiStef I have this attractive photo of me with Bill Shorten.