In pure Aussie style, Western Australian Labor MP Kyle McGinn has farewelled parliament by skolling a beer from his shoe, leaving colleagues gobsmacked and social media in stitches.
The tattooed, mullet-sporting member for Mining and Pastoral Region concluded his valedictory speech on May 21, 2025, with the iconic “shoey” – cracking open a can of Margaret River CBCo Draught, pouring it into his sneaker, and downing it on the floor of the Legislative Council.
“I thought so long and hard about how to finish this speech, and my constituents in the Goldfields, I think, will be particularly appreciative,” McGinn told the chamber. “I’m used to getting told off, so we might as well get this over and done with, but I would like to say to the members and the constituents across WA, thank you for two fantastic terms. Cheers.“
The stunt earned an immediate rebuke from Legislative Council President Alanna Clohesy, who ordered him to resume his seat with a firm “Now!” She admonished that McGinn had “run a very fine line in offending the dignity of the council,” noting the clear breach of parliamentary protocols that prohibit food and drink in the chamber.
Born on May 23, 1988, in Darwin, Northern Territory, McGinn’s hour-long farewell speech covered substantial ground before his theatrical finale. He spoke candidly about automation challenges in regional industries, his severe anxiety diagnosis (urging men to seek mental health support), and reflected on his eight years representing WA’s vast mining regions.
“Love me or hate me. I haven’t changed who I am,” McGinn declared in his parting address, a sentiment that appeared to guide his unorthodox exit.
From Cook to Pollie
McGinn’s unusual path to politics began in the kitchens of offshore oil rigs, following his father who also worked at sea. He later became a Maritime Union organiser, advocating for workers’ rights in the resources sector.
In 2017, he was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Council for the Mining and Pastoral Region. Following Labor’s 2021 state election victory, McGinn served as Parliamentary Secretary across portfolios including Disability Services, Fisheries, Seniors and Ageing, and later Regional Development and Volunteering under both the McGowan and Cook governments.
The self-described “accidental politician” frequently noted he never imagined someone who failed Year 12 and had tattoos would find a place in parliament. This perspective shaped his consistent message that political institutions should represent all Australians, regardless of background.
“I never thought that I could be in parliament. I thought you had to have a university degree or at least pass Year 12,” McGinn has previously stated.
His parliamentary career concluded after he unsuccessfully sought Labor preselection for the new federal Division of Bullwinkel in September 2024, losing to Shire of Mundaring deputy president Trish Cook following federal branch intervention. McGinn announced his retirement from politics the following day.
The Great Aussie Shoey
For the uninitiated, a “shoey” involves drinking (typically beer) from a shoe – a tradition that gained international prominence through Australian Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo, who regularly performed the stunt on winners’ podiums.
Ricciardo has credited the tradition to a group called “the Mad Hueys,” Australian fishermen and surfers who “travel the world fishing and surfing and they like to drink a lot of beer – so that’s where the shoey began.”
McGinn himself first performed a shoey in 2021 when Labor won the Kalgoorlie seat for the first time since 2001. The celebration has been adopted by international celebrities including actors Patrick Stewart and Hugh Grant, talk show host Jimmy Fallon, and musicians Machine Gun Kelly and Stormzy.
Workers’ Advocate with Mixed Results
Throughout his tenure, McGinn positioned himself as a champion for workers’ rights, particularly in WA’s crucial mining and resources sectors.
In recent months, McGinn made headlines by criticizing US gas giant Chevron for plans to move Australian engineering jobs to India. During parliamentary debates, he described Chevron’s actions as “shameful” and contrary to their obligations under the Barrow Island Act, though Premier Roger Cook publicly rejected his claims as “intemperate.”
His valedictory speech addressed ongoing concerns about automation in regional industries and its impact on job security – issues directly affecting his constituents across the vast Mining and Pastoral Region.
Digital Divides
The parliamentary shoey rapidly went viral across social media platforms, with videos shared widely on TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and other networks. Public response was divided between those who found it a refreshingly authentic display and critics who deemed it inappropriate for parliament.
“Whenever people say Americans are the most crass and vulgar people on Earth, I remind them that Australia exists,” wrote one social media user.
Others defended McGinn’s stunt as perfectly aligned with his constituency in the Goldfields region, where such celebrations might be more commonplace.
Breaking Parliamentary Tradition
McGinn’s unconventional exit reflects his entire political approach – challenging traditional notions of who belongs in parliament and how they should behave.
While his shoey clearly violated parliamentary protocol, it connected with many constituents who appreciated seeing a representative stay true to his roots rather than conform to traditional political personas.
During his eight years in parliament, McGinn advocated particularly for regional interests across his electorate, which encompasses much of Western Australia’s mining regions. His commitment to workers’ rights, mental health awareness, and regional development formed the core of his political identity.
McGinn’s farewell shoey caps off a political career that, while relatively brief, left an unmistakable impression on Western Australian politics. His departure coincides with broader changes in the state’s political landscape following the 2025 election.
For a self-described “accidental politician,” Kyle McGinn ensured his exit from the political stage was entirely deliberate – and undeniably memorable.
