2GB radio host Ben Fordham was the latest to stir up the Liberal leadership stew on Thursday, tweeting that Julie Bishop would be lunching at Malcolm Turnbull's Sydney home.
Interesting fact - @JulieBishopMP and @TurnbullMalcolm have arranged to meet at his Sydney home today. #auspol
The tweet sent journalists scrambling to his Point Piper home. The Communications Minister calmly replied with a picture of him on a train traveling to the New South Wales north coast.
@BenFordham you need to improve yr surveillance! I am on the train to Tuggerah. PoliticsinPub Nth Wyong 2nite
It didn't stop Fordham demanding more answers.
@TurnbullMalcolm Did you meet with @JulieBishopMP at your Sydney home today ?
@BenFordham No Ben. At 11.30 am I was not meeting w @JulieBishopMP - after a meeting at NBNCo I was waiting for a train at Nth Sydney
The other party, Ms Bishop, known for replying on Twitter promptly and personally, rubbished the rumour.
@BenFordham @TurnbullMalcolm Wrong information!! In Canberra this morning flew to Sydney filmed by @channel9 now with @FionaScottMP
And to stick the knife in further, Mr Turnbull tweeted pictures to prove he was not at home.
And now for some Hawkesbury River pix from the train! very scenic if not rapid.
Arrived at our destination! @BenFordham looking forward to discussing broadband with Karen Mcnamara MP
The "tweets on a train" sparked some legendary photoshop work.
Just chillin on the ol rail network
#itson
Others refused to believe their denials. Really, do they have body doubles now? They could.
Look, it's abundantly clear that Malcolm and Julie have employed body doubles
But maybe the sweetest irony of them all? Prime Minister Tony Abbott was holding a meeting about metadata retention as the zingers were being tweeted. IT'S ALL TOO MUCH!
Discussing the importance of the Government's data retention legislation