Motoring Enthusiasts Party's Ricky Muir stumbles through rare interview

Incoming Motoring Enthusiasts Party senator Ricky Muir, who will help hold the balance of power in the Senate come July, has stumbled over a series of questions in a television interview that has quickly gone viral.

Victorian senator-elect Ricky Muir on Channel Seven's Sunday Night program.

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Mike Willesee’s report on Palmer United Party’s Senate team included the agonising interview with the Motoring Enthusiasts Party senator-elect, which saw 34-year-old Mr Muir trail off mid-answer and leave the interview at one point.

The timber mill worker gave a short interview in Boston, during which he described the balance of power as “the potential if… in this case, Labor and Greens… it’s the power to vote down legislation in the right circumstance”.

Mr Muir also left the interview for advice from a minder after failing to explain what the term “after market industry” meant, despite using it several times during the interview.

Willesee conceded that Mr Muir was “a little unused to politics”, but was excited for the opportunity.

“I’m bringing in the voice of the everyday Australian,” Muir said.

“I think that’s very important.”

The interview sent Ricky Muir trending across social media on Monday morning, with reactions ranging from the supportive to savage.