Craig Emerson has been a trending topic on Twitter for hours now, thanks to an infamous video of him, which has now gone viral on the internet.

The video, an interview with ABC News on carbon tax, shows the Minister for Trade and Competition breaking into a song while defending a serious topic of discussion among Aussies today.

Moments after describing the opposition to carbon tax as "the mother of all scare campaigns," Emerson announces he was in Whyalla on Sunday.

Asked for his assessment on the "mood" in Whyalla, and how the people feel about the "potential impacts of the carbon (tax)," Emerson quips:

"Well, this is the mood in Whyalla," and then a tune plays, the MP moves to a dance and bobs his head to a backing tune, and sings:

"No Whyalla wipe-out, right there on my TV. No Whyalla wipe-out, right there on my TV... shocking me right out of my brain..."

Craig Emerson Video: Twitter folks react

Twitter users were quick to react on the odd turn of events. The dominant emotion in the tweets is that of disappointment and frustration over Emerson's behaviour on live TV.

‏@bencubby: To keep things in perspective, Craig Emerson is the guy who once brought a cardboard cat into question time and poured it a saucer of milk.

@davpope: I had a cartoon about Tony Abbott all lined up, then Craig Emerson distracted me

@latikambourke: Barnaby Joyce 'after seeing Craig Emerson yesterday...the Labor party's game is self-evident. They think that the carbon tax is a joke.'

@Spoonyman: Here's a link to Trade Minister Craig Emerson's Horror Movie 'parody'. Watch it and weep for the nation...

@3AWNeilMitchell: Sorry. The more I watch Craig Emerson's stunt the worse it gets. Might try to interview him today

@ChasLicc: Good News for Craig Emerson: He's gone viral. Bad News: The virus seems to be rabies.

@mfarnsworth: Craig Emerson illustrates why legions of disappointed Labor supporters regard the government as a joke

@JacktheInsider: OMG RT @CanberraInsider: Attention everyone: Craig Emerson has lost his mind. Watch this video.

‏@Imresal: The difference between Craig Emerson and Peter Garrett? One has become famous for an inability to carry a tune; the other is Trade Minister.

@OckyGreen: Craig Emerson has done the Jon Sullivan and I don't think he will ever be taken seriously ever again.

Here's the infamous song-and-dance video featuring Australian MP Craig Emerson.