The ACT Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee has apologised after losing her temper on camera. Just days out from Saturday's election, Ms Lee stuck up her middle finger at a local journalist following a fiery press conference. She claims to have been repeatedly poorly treated but concedes there was no excuse for her response.
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00:00After six weeks on the ACT campaign trail, this was the moment the intensity boiled over.
00:09As the Liberal leader lost her cool with a local journalist, as she walked away from
00:13another fiery press conference flanked by staff and supporters.
00:18I don't excuse my behaviour. It was poor behaviour and I am disappointed in myself and in a moment
00:23of frustration I did let the emotional side of my reaction get the better of me.
00:29This extraordinary image of Elizabeth Lee captured just moments after she engaged in
00:34a back and forth with region media's Ian Bushnell.
00:37Are you finished?
00:38I just want you to answer the question.
00:40Are you finished?
00:41I am. Answer the question.
00:42Are you finished or not? I will answer the question in my own way, Ian. You don't get
00:45to dictate how I answer the question.
00:47OK.
00:48It's not the first time Ms Lee and Mr Bushnell have clashed. There was this exchange at the
00:53National Press Club late last year.
00:55Thank you for putting words in my mouth, Ian. So the first thing I want to say is that
00:59you've read a lot into the speech and the media release. It's not a debate, so if you'd
01:03like to debate, please go and get yourself elected and I'd love to debate you across
01:06the chamber.
01:07And then there was this encounter earlier in the campaign.
01:10But you're the only one who's ever interested. Not a single person has asked me about it.
01:14This misstep as the Liberals try to end 23 years in opposition at this Saturday's election.
01:20I apologise. I have history with this journalist. I am disappointed in my behaviour and I'm
01:27more disappointed that my daughters may think that it's not the type of behaviour they expect
01:34from their mother, who I hope is going to be a role model for them.
01:38A rare unscripted moment in what's been a largely stage-managed campaign.