Waleed Aly slammed over fiery budget “interrogation”
Walled Aly is facing backlash after his fiery interview with opposition leader Anthony Albanese over the 2021 federal budget.
The Labor leader was grilled on Channel 10’s The Project on Wednesday night by Mr Aly, receiving a mixed response from the audience who accused him of interrupting Mr Albanese multiple times.
The Project co-host took exception to Mr Albanese accusing the government of using "slush funds" and misusing an unallocated $9 billion in the budget.
“They’ve also set-up these little slush funds. They've set up with 21 separate funds, they have $4 billion attached to them,” Mr Albanese said.
“And there is $9 billion in the budget over the next short little while which is decisions taken, but not announced.
“It is your money, taxpayers, but they won't tell you what it will be spent on and you have got to suspect it will be very much devoted to the political map rather than people's needs.
Mr Aly cut in to say: “That’s a common line item in the budget, though.”
The Labor leader shot back, saying “I have never seen anything like it. I have been here a while. It is not common to have $9 billion.”
“The amount, you can argue. It is not a scandalous line item. That's a common one,” Aly said.
“It is not actually, but we'll keep going,” Mr Albanese said while Mr Aly continued to talk about the NDIS.
“Billions has been added to the NDIS, which you were saying was a Labor legacy,” he went on to say.
“They cut $4 billion in the budget just a little while ago. So put some of that back. That's true. Some of the areas,” Albanese remarked.
Shortly before the interview ended, Mr Aly shot back: “'More than some. They put more than $4 billion back.”
“Waleed, just a suggestion that you might let a guest answer the questions you pose. That interview did you no favours,' one person wrote on Twitter.
Another added: “Just ask questions, don't talk him down.”
“I love Waleed and The Project but seriously that Albo Interview was ridiculous. So Simon Birmingham had a light and fluffy interview and Albo got a full on interrogation,” a third person said.
Others accused Albanese of being desperate to find something wrong in the budget.
“Oh dear. Albo clutching at straws, he knows Labor is doomed at the next election,” one person said.