Earlier today, as I was reverse Google image searching a picture of Barnaby Joyce's feet, I wondered if I was perhaps taking this too seriously. The National party MP has been attending parliament without his habitual RM Williams boots in protest against the owner of the classic Australian fashion brand, Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest, whose company Squadron Energy is building wind and solar developments across New South Wales and Queensland, including in Joyce's electorate of New England. Joyce told 2GB radio on Wednesday that the idea came to him at Beef Week in Rockhampton.
He said he had no issue with Forrest personally, but objected to the "swindle-factory so-called windfarms all over our area". "I thought I'll make a statement so people will say, 'why are you doing that?'" he said. Well, mission accomplished.
But I remain confused. Because in the place of the RMs at question time earlier this month was a pair of Ariat cowboy boots. Specifically, my image searching revealed, the Cowpuncher VentTEK in the dark brown/golden mustard colourway.
Andrew Forrest urges shift to renewables and attacks 'bulldust of nuclear policies' – video According to the product description, the boots are designed to provide "a soft landing when you jump off the feed truck or off your horse", while the vents in the scrolling "keeps you cool in the heat or in branding season". This is fine. I've got nothing against a good pair of Ariats, though as a horse rider in the English disciplines my Ariats ar.
