It wouldn’t be an election year without a visit to the Royal Easter Show by the prime minister and his family.
Scott Morrison, his wife Jenny and daughters Lily and Abbey toured the agricultural sheds at the show in Sydney on Saturday afternoon, meeting farmers, jersey cows and a llama.
Despite Mr Morrison’s recent interactions with the public – including an angry voter who confronted him at a Newcastle pub – his reception at the show could not have been better.
Hundreds of punters got in on the action, battling the press pack to lay eyes on the man who has been running the country for the past three years.
The prime minister was more than happy to oblige with handshakes, selfies, waves and high fives.
Colleen, 57, from Sydney’s Northern Beaches told AAP while she wasn’t going to vote Liberal in May, she still made a point of trying to see the prime minister when she realised he’d arrived.
“I think it’s good to see (politicians) to know that they’re meeting people and talking … (but) I’m hoping to see a change at the next election,” she said.
It was a sentiment shared by Matt, visiting from Canberra with his partner Raphael, who said meeting with the public was important.
“This is cool, everyone’s excited to see him and obviously he’s got security but I think this is one of the only countries in the world where you can get so close to a prime minister,” he told AAP.
But it wasn’t all smiles and selfies for the prime minister.
Mudgee-born Tiana, 30, told AAP despite the seemingly warm reception, she didn’t think the visit would change the public’s judgment on the past three years with him in the top job.
“He still has a lot of issues, people in rural Australia would be aware of his positions on climate change and I doubt showing his face is changing their opinions,” she said.
Mr Morrison started his campaign day on a sweet note, touring a lolly factory in the Melbourne Liberal-held seat of Chisholm in Melbourne.
He is expected to spend Easter Sunday in Sydney with Jenny and their girls.
