<<Print>>

A female Australian MP came under a barrage of criticism on social networks today after she just sat and stared blankly when a man collapsed beside her on live TV. When Simon Sheikh slumped forward, banging his head on a desk with a loud thump, Liberal MP Sophie Mirabella sat back in her seat and stared at the unconscious man as crew members rushed to his aid. Mr Sheikh, representing a community group, and Miss Mirabella were part of a panel of experts on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation network discussing the newly imposed carbon tax.Then, as the discussion continued, he suddenly slumped forward, banging his head - and Miss Mirabella, and who was sitting immediately to his left jerked back in her seat away from him.Moments earlier, Climate Change Minister Greg Combet had given a confused look in Mr Sheikh�s direction, commenting : �I�m not sure what Simon�s doing there. Is he OK? I think... he� s not OK. Simon is not OK. � Mr Combet and members of the show�s crew rushed to the slumped man�s assistance- as Miss Mirabella recoiled. Today, after it was learned that Mr Sheikh had fainted because he was recovering from a severe bout of the flu, it was Miss Mirabella�s reaction which had social media fluttering with criticism. �Oh and if I�m ever in need of first aid I really hope the first person on the scene isn�t Sophie Mirabella�, tweeted columnist Joe Hildebrand.