‘Evasive, out of touch’: Teal independent Monique Ryan’s latest media train wreck could sink her campaign

The teal independent MP was at a pre-poll booth in Melvern in Melbourne’s southeast yesterday, handing out how-to-vote cards to those casting their ballots early, when her third shambolic encounter of the campaign played out live on Sky News.

Laura Jayes, a former fixture of the Canberra Press Gallery and now a prominent broadcaster, approached Dr Ryan on the footpath to ask how she was.

The politician, a long-time campaigner for transparency, repeatedly batted away questions in an awkward display before walking off and leaving a young staffer to block Jayes’ path.

You can watch the full awkward encounter in the player above.

The incident follows Dr Ryan fleeing questions from a Channel 7 reporter inside Parliament House last month after her husband was sprung ripping down a poster belonging to her Liberal rival.

And Dr Ryan’s appearance on the ABC’s Insiders program last week sparked further unflattering headlines when she fumbled through a reasonable question.

Corporate media trainer Greg Dyett, a former 30-year news veteran who runs Media Success, said Dr Ryan was missing opportunities to “make her case for re-election”.

Her repeated “rookie er...
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