Indigenous artist avoids sacking from government role despite releasing foul-mouthed rant labelling Anthony Albanese a ‘genocidal c***'
Prime Minister Albanese is reportedly considering a potential shift in foreign policy following in the footsteps of the UK, France and Canada, with September's UN General Assembly a possible timeframe for Australia to formally recognise a Palestinian state.
Mr Albanese's hardening stance on the conflict was not enough to satisfy Indigenous musician and federal public servant Fred Leone, who posted a lengthy expletive-laden rant to Instagram last week scolding the PM and his cabinet colleagues in the strongest possible terms.
Mr Leone, who was driving in his car at the time, began the clip by declaring that Anthony Albanese was a 'weak as p***, f****** dead s*** damn arsed leader' and that he was the 'poxiest f****** leader this country has ever had.'
The Butchulla songman was nominated to the board of the Music Australia Council by Arts and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke in 2023 and rakes in an annual salary of $24,540 from the position.
Mr Leone, who has an extensive track record of expressing controversial personal opinions, seemed unphased about his position as a civil servant and proceeded to launch a blistering personal attack aimed at his ministerial bosses.
Mr Albanese copped the brunt of the tirade and was characterised by Mr Leone as a 'f****** child' who had been 'sucking Zionist n*** for the last two years, it's pathetic.'
'You (Mr Albanese) call anybody who calls out Israel an antisemite, what we are talking about is disgusting, you are selling weapons parts to Israel, go get f***** you piece of s***.
Mr Leone said Foreign Minister Penny Wong should also 'go get f*****' and that she was a 'gutless piece of s***' and a 'lying b****.'
The man then turned his sights to Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, who personally appointed him to the lucrative federal board.
'Tony Burke, you f****** weak arse c***. How many Israeli IDF soldiers are here and living in this country with dual citizenship and you are here galivanting around,' Mr Leone said.
He also appeared to threaten the trio, at one stage stating, 'don't come near me or I'll rip you in front of everybody.'
The outburst, which would typically warrant instant termination in most workplaces, did not result in Mr Leone being stood down from his official capacity as a federal bureaucrat - with The Australian reporting he would remain in the role until his term on the board lapsed at the end of August.
In a brief statement to The Australian, Mr Burke said 'his (Leone's) language escalated as soon as he was told that he wasn't going to be reappointed to Music Australia.'
Mr Leone said he 'couldn't give a f***' if he 'never got any funding from the Australin government ever again.'
'I will apply, and I couldn't give a f***, I couldn't care less,' he said.
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