Jones, who in the bio of her new TikTok account says her old account on the platform had been deleted, made her Instagram private after the wombat incident. But other videos posted to the account later emerged, including of her appearing to handle an echidna in the wild, and pull a baby shark from a rock pool by its tail.
Jones, who described herself as an “Outdoor enthusiast” and hunter as well as a “Wildlife Biologist & Environmental Scientist”, also posted a photo last month of her posing with a chital (deer) she had hunted in Australia.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese weighed in at a press conference in Perth on Thursday, suggesting she try take “another animal that can actually fight back, rather than stealing a baby wombat from its mother”.
“I would suggest to this so-called influencer, maybe she might try some other Australian animals. Take a baby crocodile from its mother and see how you go there,” Albanese said.
On Friday, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, asked whether he would readmit Jones if elected, also condemned the video.
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“Every application will be assessed on its merits … I thought it was a cruel act, to be honest, and I’m glad that the influencer has now left, but I’m not going to give more publicity to somebody who craves it.”
Since the story first broke live on 2GB on Wednesday morning, it has gone on to receive international coverage, appearing on the BBC, as well as in American outlets including the New York Post and The Washington Post. Some gently mocked Australians’ protective attitude to their native wildlife.
With Kayla Olaya and Hamish Hastie
