Scott Morrison 'hangs up' on radio host after touchy question

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison abruptly ended a radio interview on Tuesday after becoming agitated about an apparently sensitive topic.

Mr Morrison appeared to hang up on Brisbane host Neil Breen prematurely after he was grilled about his relationship with US President Joe Biden.

“It's been 15 days since Kabul fell to the Taliban, obviously, we're great partners with the United States. Have you spoken to US President Joe Biden yet?” Mr Breen asked the PM on 4BC's breakfast show.

Mr Morrison responded that he had not yet heard from Biden but anticipated a phone call “not too far away”.

“Is that disappointing that he hasn't contacted you? We are a pretty strong ally,” Mr Breen said.

“Well, we are. And that's not affected by it. I mean, we've been in constant contact with those who have been running these operations and the Foreign Secretary and all, everyone who's been involved in these operations through the military. And we've had a seamless relationship,” the PM said.

“We were able to get 4,100 people out of there. That's around about four times what our original estimate was.

“So, you know, I understand these comments, but the US President needed to do what he needed to do, and I needed to do what I needed to do.”

Mr Breen then pointed out that Mr Biden has contacted Spain, Italy and France following the end of the war and the fall of Kabul to the Taliban.

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“I don't know. He didn't give us Pfizer vaccine. I think we're on the nose with him,” the radio host said.

“No, not at all. I mean, I mean, I just don't agree with that,” Mr Morrison said while laughing.

“I’ve been dealing with the United States on many issues and we continue to do that. And, you know, I'm not precious about these things. I just focus on getting the job done.”

Following the chat, Mr Breen thanked the PM for his time on 4BC Breakfast but was greeted with the sound of Mr Morrison hanging up. He did not respond to the host’s goodbye.

“There he is — ooh I don’t think he liked the Joe Biden question,” Mr Breen said.

Morrison's hang up slammed by listeners

Numerous people have taken to social media to criticise Mr Morrison following the awkward interview.

"Seems the prime minister is still a bit cranky this morning — he appeared to hang up on a radio host without saying goodbye after questions about why Joe Biden hadn’t been in contact with him over Afghanistan," one woman Tweeted.

"Why would Joe Biden want to talk with Trump's bestie?" another person said.

"Fairly sure Biden has little Scotty in the deep freeze over carbon emissions. If it wasn't for that, Biden might have helped secure more Pfizer shots earlier?" a man wrote, alluding to the pressure Australia has received from global leaders to commit to net zero emissions by 2050.

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