Nationals Senator Matt Canavan has copped it on Twitter after sharing that he bought his wife a clothesline for Mother's Day.
Canavan shared a photo of himself and his wife standing in front of the newly-installed clothesline on Saturday, seizing the opportunity to spruik both Australian manufacturing and his Mother's Day gift in a single tweet.
"Installed 100% Aussie made Austral clothesline today," Canavan wrote on Twitter. "Disappointing that Hills Hoists are Made in China. Great product from Austral though. Support Aussie manufacturing jobs ... And timing is a coincidence but the missus is happy with the early Mother's Day present!"
The Queensland senator was roasted on Twitter for his choice of gift, which has been described as an "awful present" more in keeping with the gender roles of the 1950s.
"How romantic," one Twitter user wrote in response. "Why is it a present for her, don't you ever use it?"
Others were more blunt, warning Canavan that "if my husband bought me a clothes line for Mother's Day he had better be wearing camouflage not High Vis".
Canavan's choice of gift wasn't the only thing that raised eyebrows. Quite a few Australians had questions about why the senator was wearing high visibility workwear to install a clothesline alone in his own backyard.
The fashion statement reminded some of the Liberal Party's #FakeTradie advertising campaign from 2016, as well as other occasions where members of the Coalition have donned high vis to make a statement.
And then, of course, there were those who just couldn't resist sending a cheeky reminder to the former Minister for Resources, who is well-known for supporting coal, while questioning the urgency of acting on climate change.
"Mate, you realise that clothes line is wind powered," one user wrote.
