Keeping Mum: Bill Shorten comes under fire for Q&A sob story about his mother which leaves out one vital fact – but Labor leader hits back in snarling tweet

  • Bill Shorten told how his late mum dreamed of being a lawyer but was forced to become a teacher instead to provide for her family 
  • The powerful speech on ABC's Q&A program on Monday was hailed as an election-winning moment 
  • The Labor leader has now come under fire for failing to clarify that his mother had in fact gone on to practice law
  • Ann Shorten graduated with a law degree in 1985 and became a successful barrister in Melbourne 

By Kylie Stevens For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 12:22 EDT, 7 May 2019 | Updated: 12:48 EDT, 7 May 2019

Bill Shorten has been caught out for omitting one vital fact from his sob story on Q&A about his late mother's dream to be a lawyer.

The Labor leader delivered a powerful spiel about his beloved mother Ann, who died five years ago, aged 79, during the final minutes of the ABC show on Monday night.

Mr Shorten told how his mother came from a working class background and was the first in her family to go to university.

She had dreams of being a lawyer but became a teacher instead so she could care for her siblings. 

Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten (pictured right while national secretary of the Australian Workers Union) still regard his late mother Ann (left) as his biggest inspiration

Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten (pictured right while national secretary of the Australian Workers Union) still regard his late mother Ann (left) as his biggest inspiration

'She was the eldest in the family so needed to take the teacher scholarship to look after the rest of the kids,' the Labor leader told the audience.

'My mum was a brilliant woman, she wasn't bitter. She worked here (Monash University) for 35 years.

'But I also know that if she had other opportunities, she could have done anything. I can't make it right for my mum. And she wouldn't want me to.

'What motivates me, if you really want to know who Bill Shorten is, I can't make it right for my mum but I can make it right for everyone else.'

The aspiring prime minister's address was hailed as an election-winning moment but he has since come under fire for leaving out an important detail.

Bill Shorten told how his mother had dreams of being a lawyer but became a teacher instead

Bill Shorten told how his mother had dreams of being a lawyer but became a teacher instead

Bill Shorten (left), pictured with his late mum Ann and twin brother Robert, came under a fire because it omitted one vital fact

Bill Shorten (left), pictured with his late mum Ann and twin brother Robert, came under a fire because it omitted one vital fact

Mrs Shorten actually did follow her dreams and became a barrister later in life when she was in her late 50s, according to The Daily Telegraph. 

She graduated with a law degree from Monash University in 1985 with first-class honours, and practiced at the Victorian Bar for six years. 

She was also the founder of the Australian & New Zealand Education Law Association in 1991.

Mrs Shorten also paid to send her twin boys to Melbourne’s exclusive Xavier College.

Mr Shorten responded with a scathing and lengthy post on Twitter late Tuesday night, describing the report as a new low and a political attack on him and his mother's memory.

'I've told her story a lot in recent years. I told it two weeks ago when I launched Labor's women's policy. I told it again last night on Q & A,' Mr Shorten wrote.

Dr Ann Shorten (pictured) became a barrister later in life when she was in her late 50s

Dr Ann Shorten (pictured) became a barrister later in life when she was in her late 50s

Bill Shorten hit back on Twitter after a newspaper pointed out that his mother did finally follow her dreams to become a lawyer later in life

Bill Shorten hit back on Twitter after a newspaper pointed out that his mother did finally follow her dreams to become a lawyer later in life

He set the record straight about his late mother by publishing his speech from two weeks ago of how she finally followed her dreams and studied law at Monash University in her 50s.

'When I was in my first year of law school, she was in her final year. She was her brilliant self and won the Supreme Court prize,' Mr Shorten posted.

'She had a remarkable life and she felt very fortunate. But because of her financial circumstances, she didn't get all of the opportunities she deserved.'

'I can't change what happened to my Mum. But I can change things for other people. 'nd that's why I'm in politics.' 

Mr Shorten's tweet was inundated with overwhelming support from voters. 

Mr Shorten carries the coffin of his mother Ann at her funeral in 2014 after she died aged 79

Mr Shorten carries the coffin of his mother Ann at her funeral in 2014 after she died aged 79

Advertisement

Bill Shorten comes under fire for Q&A sob story about his mum before hitting back in snarling tweet 

Comments 10

Share what you think

The comments below have not been moderated.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Add your comment

What's This?

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.