On Tuesday, I listened to Scott Morrison talking about the respect he has for the Australian voter’s intelligence and that they deserved to be included in the conversation about tax reform.
He was reacting to some poll that said the majority of Aussies were in favour of increasing the GST provided there was a compensation package, regardless of not knowing what that compensation package might entail – something that Scott has been unable to elucidate.
If we are so smart, how come we can’t be told anything about the persecution of asylum seekers being done in our name at great public cost? Could it be because Scott reportedly argued in shadow cabinet that the Liberals should exploit community concerns about Muslim immigrants? Don’t forget, this is the man who was willing to make political hay when relatives of asylum seekers killed in the boat tragedy off Christmas Island in December 2010 were flown at taxpayers’ expense to attend their loved ones’ funerals in Sydney.
Scott hastily assured us that while the poll showed that the public was not falling for Labor’s scare campaign, it is not government policy to increase the GST. He blamed the State Premiers for even bringing it up. It’s them what wants it…not us.
This from the man whose party came to office on the back of a campaign about the “great big new tax on everything”, the party who assured us that getting rid of the carbon and mining taxes would lead to more jobs.
This from the man whose relentless scare campaign about boat arrivals saw him posing in front of a billboard counting them off – something that you could now be prosecuted for revealing.
Scott tells us that he doesn’t want to raise the GST – he is all about income tax and corporate tax cuts. Scott is terribly concerned about bracket creep. Not concerned enough to change the brackets mind you, but most concerned that the average wage earner may have to pay an extra 4.5c per dollar on a very small portion of their income.
When asked about fairness, Scott replied that we have to be fair to wealthy people – after all, successful people should be rewarded for their effort. Accountants cost a lot!
Scott is obviously an up-and-comer in Liberal ranks but he is also prone to defensiveness and flashes of anger. Critics within his own party call him arrogant, over-ambitious and bullying. “It is impossible to talk about Scott Morrison,” says one, “without dropping the C-bomb,” something far too many politicians seem prone to do in my opinion though Christopher Pyne assures us it was a G-bomb.
When I listen to Scott Morrison’s hectoring tone of voice, regardless of the words, I am hearing “It’s bloody obvious what we are going to do and if you don’t agree then you are a moron.” I most definitely do not feel I am being invited to give suggestions. I am being told to trust the “adults” when every fibre in my being screams con job.
Morrison couldn’t even be honest about his “loyalty”, or lack thereof. He had the ultimate each way bet and has a pre-post bet on himself winning the final.
Very shortly we will see how adept Scott is at manipulating figures as he tries to disguise cuts to welfare whilst protecting his wealthy mates. I, for one, am looking forward to his first attempt in the upcoming MYEFO. Glossy brochures, threats to journalists, and arrogance can’t hide the numbers so do your best Scott. We’ll be watching.
