It was all about steel and selfies for Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull during his visit to the Port Kembla steelworks.
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In town to officially announce Australia’s exemption to the United States steel tariff, Mr Turnbull visited the hot strip mill, where the coil is made that is ultimately shipped to BlueScope’s businesses on the US west coast.
As fate would have it, also in the strip mill was a tour group made up of US college students from Minnesota and Texas.
After shaking hands with a number of BlueScope employees the sometime Minister for Selfies walked over to the students and asked if they wanted a photo.
Handing over their phones, they crowded in close to Australia’s leader – in a way they'd probably could never do with their own man in the White House – and said cheese.
It wasn’t the only time Mr Turnbull put his selfie skills to work.
BlueScope’s Jacqui Fitzgerald also got a quick snap of herself with the Prime Minister.
She had the company’s corporate affairs boss Michael Reay to thank for the surprise meeting.
“Michael gave me a buzz and said ‘you’re one of his biggest fans, come on down and give us a hand’,” Ms Fitzgerald said.
“So that was pretty exciting for 8am on a Monday.”
She admitted it was a bit “nerve-wracking” to go up to the man and ask for a photo.
“In all honesty, one of my supportive colleagues threw me in the middle of it and said ‘come over here and get a selfie’,” she said.
“He was very lovely, very charming. I’m pleased I got the opportunity.”
She said it was highly likely the photo would end up on her social media profile.
“I’ve already had a few Snapchats from friends saying, ‘make sure you use it on a Facebook profile’,” she said.
As well as the chance to exercise his selfie skills, Mr Turnbull trekked up to the control room at the hot strip mill to get a quick explanation of the process from operator Scott McKinnon.
Also on hand were a large number of other BlueScope employees looking for a chance to press the flesh with the Prime Minister.
Though there were no selfies this time.
Glen Humphries
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
