Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has endured an awkward misstep on day six of the election campaign, stumbling and losing his footing on stage after delivering a speech in the Hunter Valley.
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Travelling media captured the moment when Mr Albanese stumbled and appeared to fall off a riser on stage at the Mining and Energy Union conference in the marginal electorate of Hunter.
He quickly recovered his composure and carried on, grinning at the cameras after being helped up by a minder.
The literal faux pas, reminiscent of former United States president Joe Biden's famous 2021 stumble on the steps of Air Force One, is among several unscripted events to have interrupted both major party leaders' campaigns to date.
Asked about the tumble on ABC radio on Thursday afternoon - and whether he was okay - Mr Albanese said he had not fallen off the stage.
"No, I stepped back one step," he told Drive host Jenny Marchant. "I didn't fall off the stage."
She replied: "It looks like you went down. I'm glad to hear you're okay, though."
"Thank you very much," the Prime Minister said. "Just one leg went down, but I was sweet."
Mr Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton were both heckled in Queensland last weekend, despite the best efforts of their minders to stage-manage their appearances.
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Climate protesters interrupted the Prime Minister's press conference at a hospital in Maitland earlier on Thursday, interrupting a moment where he sought to highlight Labor's promised new urgent care clinic and hurling criticism of the government's action on climate change.
"I think that people screaming in a hospital ward says more about them than advancing their cause, frankly," he told the ABC, accusing the protesters of posing as journalists to launch their stunt.
The seat of Hunter is held by Labor MP Dan Repacholi, who is being challenged by Nationals candidate Sue Gilroy, on a 4 per cent margin.
Mr Albanese used his speech at the MEU conference to talk up his government's record on industrial relations, including Labor's same job same pay laws.
Asked about concerns in Hunter mining communities about the forecast loss of coal mining jobs, the Prime Minister said new industries were needed to provide jobs in the energy transition.
"The Hunter Valley has a great future," he said.
