When it comes to punishing thieves, one Today show star has some very unique ideas.
Weekend Today host Michael Atkinson was chatting with Queensland Premier David Crisafulli on Sunday about an individual accused of cutting a telecommunications cable just hours before a cyclone was expected to hit the state’s far north.
‘I reckon it’s the lowest act any human could possibly do,’ the Premier said.
‘In a disaster event, communications are everything, and what that low life did by trying to steal a bit of copper and cutting that cable is, he or she put at risk the lives of many, many thousands of people in those northern suburbs of Townsville.’
Michael agreed wholeheartedly with Premier Crisafulli’s assessment, offering his own bizarre form of punishment.
‘I reckon you’d be within your rights to zip tie them to a palm tree on the coast as the cyclone crosses the coastline, Premier.’
When it comes to punishing thieves, one Today show star has some very unique ideas. (Pictured: Today host Michael Atkinson and co-host Lara Vella)
Weekend Today host Michael Atkinson was chatting with Queensland Premier David Crisafulli (pictured) on Sunday about an individual accused of cutting a telecommunications cable just hours before a cyclone was expected to hit the state’s far north
One eagle-eyed viewer filmed the exchange and uploaded a clip to TikTok.
‘This news presenter is wild for saying this. Someone was stealing copper in Townsville and knocked the phone lines out,’ they wrote.
They also added: ‘Also, the other presenter’s face,’ referring to co-host Lara Vella’s visual response to Michael’s call.
It seems that Michael’s harsh punishment was welcomed, with many viewers commenting positively on the video.
‘This presenter is the bomb, he needs his own time slot. Have been loving the holiday presenters, they’re light and hilarious,’ one offered.
Another chimed in with a similar sentiment: ‘That’s the most Australian thing I have heard this year.’
A third summed up the sentiment of many with: ‘Love the humour – we need more of this! Also, I agree, zip tie for sure!’
It wasn’t all praise, however, with some slamming the Nine star with: ‘Mainstream media trying to incite violence + vigilantes.’
‘I reckon you’d be within your rights to zip tie them to a palm tree on the coast as the cyclone crosses the coastline, Premier,’ Michael said
Another added: ‘That presenter was playing out some kind of personal fantasy live on air.’
Two men were arrested and charged after allegedly attempting to steal copper in the aftermath of the severe weather event.
Trent John Bush and Bradley David Edwards were arrested after they were allegedly spotted lifting pit lids and cutting what appeared to be copper wire in Deeragun, a suburb of Townsville, on Sunday night.
The two men were both taken into custody and charged with seven counts of severing with intent to steal and one count of possess by day instruments of house breaking with intent to commit an indictable offence.
Crisafulli said the culprits actions meant Telstra, Optus and NBN customers across Townsville had lost access to services ahead of a storm.
One eagle-eyed viewer filmed the exchange and uploaded a clip to TikTok. ‘This news presenter is wild for saying this. Someone was stealing copper in Townsville and knocked the phone lines out,’ they wrote
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