In the hours before Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott took a step closer to the chopping block, he was touring around a timber yard in Victoria.
It was here that he made a last-ditch attempt to relate to the people of Australia and breathe life into his crumbling leadership -- Victorian prankster and part-time worker Emerson Smith decided to lend the PM his stylish sunglass and create another kind of political nightmare.
Abbott put on the sunnies -- that bear a disturbing resemblance to Oakley's Radarlocks not seen on streets since 1999 -- and snapped a once-in-a-career selfie.
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"Old mate Tony Abbott didn't even hesitate when I asked him to throw on my speed dealers today even insisting that we were to have some Friday arvo skitz times," Smith wrote alongside the photo on Facebook with the hashtag #toblazedtobephased.
He told Mashable that he reckons the PM "wears them better than Shane Warne," the Aussie cricketer who seems to be a new leadership contender, if Twitter is to be believed.
BREAKING: Shane Warne confirmed as leading contender in Tuesdays #libspill #auspol pic.twitter.com/5dQJpjXnjs— Thomas Green (@thomasb_green) February 6, 2015
"I heard he was coming to work so I thought I'd bring the ridiculous sunnies with me in the hope I would have the chance to get the snap!" Smith said. "He was pretty hesitant but I said: 'Don't you wanna be the cool Prime Minister?' And he was a pretty good sport about it an threw 'em on."
The fallout was incredible. In one click, Abbott turned into 'Tone The Speed Dealer.'
Leadership of Australia to be settled at Woy Woy Maccas carpark tonight. Be there. pic.twitter.com/D5IoXkb68T— Matt Burke (@matttburke) February 5, 2015
#itson #libspill pic.twitter.com/6ESbbVZdBs— Mark Di Stefano (@MarkDiStef) February 5, 2015
"I have the full support of the Liberal party and these are fashionable sunglasses." #libspill pic.twitter.com/TQyA0fX1XC— John Johnsonson (@JohnJohnsonson) February 6, 2015
#BREAKING #libspill #auspol #TonyAbbott pic.twitter.com/0qWoceLkxk— CFMEU (@CFMEU_CG) February 6, 2015
Tony Abbott [SKITZMIX 2015] [FLAC] [CD-RIP] [MIXXED BY SHANE SKILLZ].zip.torrent pic.twitter.com/ivjXumbEUV— j.r. hennessy (@jrhennessy) February 5, 2015
Captain’s call #collegiate #consultative pic.twitter.com/92LqNUqTFf— Jones (@platinumdepot) February 5, 2015
I propose that we make #leftshark the next Prime Minister of Australia. #libspill pic.twitter.com/JRhcA6GksG— Sir No I In Spill (@Pribblicious) February 6, 2015
Tone + Sandstorm infinite loop cc @andycam_ https://t.co/qFPwEhgzzS— Darude Chuckleggs (@thewetmale) February 5, 2015
Upside - if Tony gets rolled, a DJ set at Future Music Fest is assured, based on the shades alone #libspill #auspol pic.twitter.com/ogM4Pmookc— Josh Butler (@JoshButler) February 5, 2015
guess Tony's sunglasses photo op really made the #libspill process SPEED up, amiright? ....guys? Guys? pic.twitter.com/tRY6VyEBG2— Josh Butler (@JoshButler) February 6, 2015