Queensland floods: Real estate agent promotes business on Sunrise

A canny real estate agent used a television news appearance during Queensland’s latest flood crisis to promote her business.

Sunrise reporter Bianca Stone was interviewing resident Sue Lee about the heavy rain on Friday when Ms Lee praised her ‘beautiful town’ and its ‘water views’.

Co-anchor Natalie Barr burst into laughter at the opportunistic plug, before revealing she ‘comes from a family of real estate agents’ herself.

Having a laugh: A canny real estate agent used a TV news appearance during Queensland’s latest flood crisis to promote her business. Sunrise host Natalie Barr burst into laughter at the opportunistic plug, before revealing she ‘comes from a family of real estate agents’ herself

Ms Stone interviewed Ms Lee as Queenslanders prepare for heavy rain and flash flooding this weekend. 

Standing on the front step of her real estate business with her granddaughters and sandbags protecting the entrance, Ms Lee said: ‘I’ve had this building for 25 years.’

She continued: ‘But don’t be detracted, it’s a beautiful town, water views. Come and buy real estate at Elders Real Estate!’

Any opportunity! Sunrise reporter Bianca Stone was interviewing resident Sue Lee (centre) about the heavy rain on Friday when Ms Lee praised her ‘beautiful town’ and its ‘water views’ 

Spruikers: Ms Stone joked that Ms Lee spoke ‘like a true real estate agent’, which prompted Barr to say she could easily relate because she is ‘from a family of real estate agents’

Ms Stone joked that Ms Lee spoke ‘like a true real estate agent’, which prompted Barr to say she could easily relate.

‘See, I come from a family of real estate agents. I love them for that reason right there,’ she laughed. 

Barr, who is a university dropout, revealed in March that never in her ‘wildest dreams’ could she have imagined herself working on Australia’s No. 1 breakfast show.

Popular TV star: Barr, who is a university dropout, revealed in March that never in her ‘wildest dreams’ could she have imagined herself working on Australia’s No. 1 breakfast show

‘I hated uni and my parents said I could leave if I got a job and I sent letters to so many places,’ the Perth-born journalist said. 

‘And I was so excited when the Wanneroo Times answered because they were the only ones who responded, or didn’t tell me to go away.

‘I just wanted to make it on TV one day. I couldn’t have dreamt I would end up in Sydney, let alone on a show like this. It is way beyond my wildest dreams growing up in Bunbury. ‘

Dreams come true: ‘I just wanted to make it on TV one day. I couldn’t have dreamt I would end up in Sydney, let alone on a show like this. It is way beyond my wildest dreams,’ Barr said

While she has worked on Sunrise since 2003, Barr didn’t move to the main desk until March last year, when she replaced Samantha Armytage as host.

She co-anchors Seven’s breakfast show with David ‘Kochie’ Koch.

Also in March, Barr revealed why she will never become a fixture of tabloid headlines like her outspoken predecessor.

She told Who magazine she doesn’t attract the same level of press attention as Armytage because she lives a ‘normal life’.

Stepping up: While she has worked on Sunrise since 2003, Barr didn’t move to the main desk until March last year, when she replaced Samantha Armytage (right) as host 

‘I’m naturally boring. I do the grocery shopping and I just do normal stuff that people do,’ Barr said.

She also admitted she felt ‘scared’ during the first few months in the top job but eventually ‘found [her] feet’.

Armytage quit Channel Seven’s breakfast show in March 2021 after a successful TV career spanning two decades.

Happy life: Barr is married to Oscar-nominated film and TV editor Andrew Thompson. The couple (pictured on March 27, 2021) married in 1995 and are parents to two sons