The angry disability pensioner who confronted Prime Minister Scott Morrison at a pub in NSW has since revealed that he does not regret a moment of the encounter.
In an exclusive interview with NBN News on Wednesday night, Raymond Drury said he had been ignored for years over his problems and had previously reached out to dozens of MPs but no one listened.
“When this stewing up and everything like that over 12 years and being rejected, not even listened to, of course I’m going to take that opportunity,” he said of his decision to confront Scott Morrison in a fiery exchange at Edgeworth Tavern in Lake Macquarie.
In a video that has gone viral on social media, Mr Drury can be heard shouting at the Prime Minister: “listen to me for a change”.
He also yelled that Mr Morrison “better f***ing do something” and that he was “sick of your bulls**t”.
The 73-year-old had worked in mining for 30 years before retiring and shared he received weekly compensation through the Dust and Disease division of iCare.
iCare provides treatment and financial support to workers who have a disability as a result of a compensable dust disease contracted in a NSW workplace. That payment has however eaten into his pension, reducing it by $200 a week.
“I’ve got prostate cancer, I’ve got tumours, asbestos tumours,” he told NBN.
“(I’m) being ignored by everybody when I’ve got a right to earn some income too.
“Why wouldn’t I get upset, every week I get $200 taken out of my pension.”
He said after speaking to the Prime Minister’s staff, he felt hopeful it would get resolved but he had a warning if it didn’t.
“I reckon it will happen, I’m going to follow this around every place the Liberals go.”
Mr Drury’s comments come after Mr Morrison downplayed the frosty exchanges he had with angry locals at the pub.
The Prime Minister said the case involving Mr Drury was “complicated” when asked about it on Thursday morning.
“He was very upset about a complicated case involving iCare and immigration issues. It was also involving income definitions under the pension regimen,” Mr Morrison told reporters.
“He had a lot of complications with those cases.
“And my staff met with him also after I carefully and respectfully listened to what he had to say.
“I can understand that he was very upset … And I was keen to understand what he was saying to me and I believe we have.”
Mr Morrison said overall, he had otherwise received a “very welcome reception”.
Image: 7News
This article first appeared on OverSixty.