The prime minister's statesmanlike pose triggers a flood of spoofs from his followers

This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

With his recent reintroduction of knights and dames to Australia, it’s clear the prime minister, Tony Abbott, retains a special fondness for Britain. Abbott’s desire to emulate his country of birth has now spilled over onto Twitter, where he appears to be taking tips from the British prime minister, David Cameron.



Cameron was mercilessly parodied for the “I’m on the phone to Obama looking very serious about Ukraine” picture he posted last month.

Twitter users responded with their own phone snaps, leading to the spectacle of the actor, Patrick Stewart, being seen with a container of Wet Wipes clamped to the side of his face.

Patrick Stewart (@SirPatStew) .@robdelaney @David_Cameron @BarackObama I'm now patched in as well. Sorry for the delay. pic.twitter.com/elLQcKcV3w

Abbott has now attempted his own statesmanlike pose, posting a picture of himself getting an update from former army chief Angus Houston on the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight.

Tony Abbott (@TonyAbbottMHR) Just got an update on the search for #MH370 from JACC Chief Coordinator Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston (Ret'd) pic.twitter.com/Gnmq5zSmgg

In a response that should swell national pride, Australian twitter users immediately began letting their prime minister know they were ready to hear the high-level briefing on the plane search.

A number of phone-like apparatus have been deployed, including a toothbrush:

slipperyseal (@slipperyseal) I'm here now. Sorry for the delay “@TonyAbbottMHR: Just got an update on the search for #MH370 pic.twitter.com/VLGBLxXUah pic.twitter.com/J19LMGMg5z

A banana:

Liquid containers:

Sir Anna (@na_cotic) @thombus @TonyAbbottMHR thanks for the update Tony. Keep me posted. pic.twitter.com/wDOgG7gjyV

Dame Tombob (@thombus) @MrJosh9000 @na_cotic @TonyAbbottMHR Okay I'm connected and... wait on I'm pretty sure that's not Tony pic.twitter.com/DPNtS4fKqj

And various foodstuffs:

David Paris (@DavidParis) Sorry Prime Minister, I’m here now pic.twitter.com/y2v6ZXMFhS

Dame Key Lime Pie (@MrJosh9000) .@thombus @na_cotic @TonyAbbottMHR wait let me swap phones pic.twitter.com/IzLlyyjuz9

One person even used a Batmanesque boot phone:

Animals have also been pushed into the fray, including a rather startled pug and an unimpressed cat:

Mark Newton XP (@NewtonMark) @burntsugar @fakeedbutler @GordyPls @TonyAbbottMHR CAN YOU HEAR ME? I’M CALLING ON MY MOBILE. pic.twitter.com/u5IlxKnjqm

Bec (@Brocklesnitch) @fakeedbutler @mtats @gordypls @TonyAbbottMHR sorry guys my phone was out of battery, here now. pic.twitter.com/KZtbap6iQB

Some pets cut out the middleman and jumped in on the Abbott-Houston call themselves:

Following a week that included earnest discussion of former foreign minister Bob Carr’s penchant for one-legged Romanian deadlifts, steel cut oats and deep-cut obliques, have we reached peak incredulity at Australia’s political leaders?