Feb 12 • 04:13 UTC 🇦🇺 Australia Guardian Australia

Fantastic. Great move. Well done Angus: the story of one of Australia’s favourite political memes

An exploration of the origins and impact of the 'Fantastic. Great move. Well done Angus' meme in Australian political discourse.

The article discusses the origins of the 'Fantastic. Great move. Well done Angus' meme, which emerged in the context of Australian politics during the Morrison government in May 2019. The story begins with Angus Taylor, who was then the Minister for Energy, posting about local transport projects in his Hume electorate. In an attempt to engage with constituents, he shared a video discussing initiatives that included plans for additional car parking at rail stations. This seemingly mundane event took an unexpected turn when a comment attributed to him in the post's comments section congratulated himself on his announcement, sparking amusement and discussion among the public.

The meme gained traction as it humorously highlighted a politician's self-congratulatory behavior seen in many aspects of political communication. It exemplifies how social media can elevate minor moments into widely recognized cultural phenomena, especially when they demonstrate relatable human flaws or awkwardness. The phrase quickly became a humorous shorthand reference in the Australian political environment, encapsulating moments of political self-promotion gone awry.

As more people began to recognize the phrase, it began to evolve beyond its original context, representing a critique of political performances in general, thereby gaining a life independent from its origins. In contemporary discourse, it serves not only as a reminder of that specific incident but also reflects the growing intersection of humor and critique in understanding political narratives.

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