Still smiling, Malcolm? Prime Minister Turnbull poses for a selfie as he visits sick kids at the Sydney Children's Hospital - after his popularity hits a new low

  • Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull visited the Sydney Children's Hospital 
  • It comes after the Federal Government pledged $20 million in funding 
  • Mr Turnbull is facing mounting internal pressure and lost two key senators 
  • His popularity has plunged, with a satisfaction rating of just 29 per cent 

By Daniel Peters For Daily Mail Australia and Australian Associated Press

Published: 00:38 EDT, 3 November 2016 | Updated: 03:47 EDT, 3 November 2016

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was happy to put a horror week of politics behind him as he visited the Sydney Children's Hospital on Thursday.

The 62-year-old, whose popularity has plunged to a new low with a satisfaction rating of 29 per cent, flashed an infectious grin as he toured the Randwick hospital.

Posing for selfies, slipping on a friendship bracelet and helping with a jigsaw puzzle - Mr Turnbull was all smiles as he cheered up some of the nation's sickest children.

The hospital visit comes after an announcement in May that the Federal Government would pledge $20 million in funding to fight childhood cancers. 

Scroll down for video 

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull spent the afternoon with sick kids at the Sydney Children's Hospital on Thursday

The 62-year-old posed for selfies and slipped on friendship bracelets as he heard the tragic stories of some of the suffering children

The hospital visit comes after an announcement in May that the Federal Government would set aside $20 million in funding to fight childhood cancers

The funding hopes to provide personalised treatments for children with untreatable cancers

The funding will help establish the Zero Childhood Cancer Initiative, providing personalised treatments for children with untreatable cancers.

Children diagnosed with cancer will have a tissue sample taken and analysed to determine their genetics. The cutting edge research then determines the best treatment to improve chances of recovery and survival.

Several major hospitals and research centres will take part including Sydney's Children's Hospitals in Randwick and Westmead.

At one point during the visit Mr Turnbull stopped to share an emotional moment with an 11-month-old patient named Nate, who appeared to be very unwell. 

'He pressed his little hand up on the glass so we were touching between the glass,' Mr Turnbull told media inside the hospital.

'And there with tubes coming out of his nose, he smiled. A smile.'

'He's only 11 months, he doesn't really understand what's going on. (But) I think he knew. I think even at that young age, he knew, as all these kids do, that despite the unfairness and rottenness of being sick - they couldn't be in better hands.'

'And there with tubes coming out of his nose, he smiled': Mr Turnbull became emotional as he recalled an interaction with an 11-month-old patient named Nate (pictured)

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull meets three-year-old Shalev Saffron

Former patient seven-year-old Lulu Demetriou wears a crown and shows Mr Turnbull her arts and craft

Mr Turnbull has had a horror week in politics, with mounting internal pressure from within his party and the potential loss of two crucial senators

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Mr Turnbull dismissed talk there was 'chaos' in the Senate after the referral of two senators to the High Court over their eligibility.   

Labor says the referrals of former senator Bob Day and One Nation's Rod Culleton to the court is a sign the government is dysfunctional.

'This is orderly business, this is what happens in a constitutional democracy, governed by the rule of law,' Mr Turnbull said.

Angry creditors will turn the spotlight on the business interests of the two embattled politicians at a series of meetings on Thursday.

The meetings relate to the Home Australia group of companies led by Mr Day, who resigned his role as a Family First senator on Tuesday, and Elite Grains headed by Senator Culleton.

Liquidators for the Home Australia group have invited creditors to meetings in Sydney and Melbourne on Thursday. Further meetings are planned for Friday.

The Elite Grains meeting will be held in Perth.

Four-year-old patient Hayden Fisher (left) invites Mr Turnbull to join him in a musical session

Mr Turnbull speaks to Gabriel Smith, 12, who is a patient at the Randwick Hospital

Mr Day, whose eligibility to run for the Senate is set to be challenged in the High Court over an issue relating to his electoral office, has stood down from his parliamentary role to focus on helping creditors.

Senator Culleton remains in parliament, but also faces a High Court challenge over his eligibility to run at the July election, relating to a larceny conviction which was in place at the time of the poll.

Both senators would be automatically rendered ineligible to keep their seats under the constitution if they were found to be bankrupt or insolvent.

The Turnbull government has heavily relied on One Nation and Family First to get its legislation through the tightly held upper house, which returns on Monday for a fortnight of sittings. 

One Nation senator Rod Culleton (left) had a stealing conviction when he was elected and could lose his eligibility, while Family First senator Bob Day resigned on Tuesday (right)

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson (pictured left) with West Australian senator Rod Culleton (pictured right) who faces a High Court challenge to his ability to stay in parliament

 

Comments (0)

Share what you think

No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

Add your comment

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now