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WA MP Kyle McGinn Ends Political Career with Shoey in Parliament

The two-term Labor MP marked his unconventional farewell with a nod to Australian tradition, emphasizing the accessibility of politics.

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Australian MP Kyle McGinn drinking beer out of his shoe to do a “Shoey”.
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Overview

  • Kyle McGinn, a WA Labor MP for the Mining and Pastoral Region, concluded his final day in parliament by performing a shoey, drinking beer from his sneaker.
  • McGinn stated the act symbolized that 'normal people' serve in parliament, aiming to humanize the institution and celebrate in his own way.
  • The gesture, part of his valedictory speech, elicited mixed reactions of laughter, applause, and shock before the Legislative Council President ordered him to sit down.
  • McGinn's retirement follows unsuccessful bids for Labor preselection at both state and federal levels, prompting his decision to step away from politics.
  • The shoey, an Australian celebratory tradition, capped McGinn's two-term tenure representing a vast regional electorate.