A music producer dressed as North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un gatecrashed a campaign event held by Scott Morrison.
The prime minister had been delivering a press conference with MP Gladys Liu at Extel Technologies manufacturing facility in Mount Waverley, Melbourne, on Friday.
He then left the facility before the music producer, who goes by the name of Howard X, walked onto the scene dressed as Kim Jong-Un.
He addressed reporters holding one hand behind his back while dressed in a pin-striped button up outfit and sporting glasses.
He accused Liberal MP Gladys Liu of being a communist before saying he supported the Liberal candidate for Chisholm.
A music producer dressed as North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un gatecrashed a campaign event attended by Scott Morrison
He then left the facility before the music producer, who goes by the name of Howard X, walked onto the scene dressed as Kim Jong-Un
‘If you want the Chinese Communist Party to be in control of Australia, vote Liberal,’ he said.
Reporters and camera crews huddled around the impersonator as he declared himself the ‘supreme leader’.
One person tried to confront Howard X and tell him to leave before labelling the stunt the ‘most offensive thing I have ever seen in a campaign’.
‘Don’t tell the Supreme Leader what to do,’ the impersonator responded. ‘I support Gladys Liu.’
The music producer was repeatedly asked by reporters for his proper name.
‘Supreme leader, Kim Jong-Un,’ he replied.
One reporter remained determined to get the true identity of the impersonator and continued to badger him with questions.
‘Sir, that’s not good enough,’ he said. ‘Just tell us who you are.’
Howard X kept up the act before turning the tables on the reporter.
‘Who are you? Okay, tell me your family, where they live, and their routes to work,’ he said.
He addressed reporters holding one hand behind his back while dressed in a pin-striped button up outfit and sporting glasses
Reporters and camera crews huddled around the impersonator as he declared himself the ‘supreme leader’
His jibe drew laughter from the reporters who continued to film the stunt.
Queensland anti-China activist and senate candidate Drew Pavlou later took to Twitter to praise Howard X.
‘This is actually one of the best things we’ve ever managed,’ he posted. ‘Love you Howard you beautiful genius.’
Howard X is an Australian-Hong Kong Chinese music producer and political satirist.
The music producer has regularly posed as the North Korean leader and impersonated him at the South Korea Winter Olympics in 2018.
The latest stunt came after Mr Morrison was pressed by reporters whether his tough stance against China had cost him Australian-Chinese voters.
‘I talk about the assertive and aggressive nature of the Chinese government,’ he said.
‘Not the Chinese people. Chinese Australians are the greatest patriots you could hope for in this country. I’m proud of what they have done for our country.
One reporter remained determined to get the true identity of the impersonator and continued to badger him with questions
Queensland anti-China activist and senate candidate Drew Pavlou later took to Twitter to praise the stunt
‘That’s why I draw a sharp and distinct line between the actions of an authoritarian government that is seeking to be coercive against Australia and to interfere in our region, and the wonderful Chinese people.’
Ms Liu swooped in to defend her party’s hardline stance against China.
‘I can tell you when you talk to Chinese people in Australia, you don’t start by asking whether they are holding a Chinese passport, visiting this place, or come to help their children look after children,’ she said.
‘I have seen a lot of people throughout my three years as a member of parliament at citizenship ceremonies. And I hear them pledge loyalty to Australia.
‘So if anyone suggests that Chinese Australians are any different from all other Australians, whether you are born here or not, I think this is offensive, divisive.’