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An open letter to Scott Morrison, PM

Mr Morrison,

Do you realise how much better off you are than the vast majority of Australians who are directly affected by your policy decisions?

You have a certainty of income – unless your Coalition colleagues decide to sack you, which, sadly, is unlikely to happen in time to benefit the rest of us.

You have a very substantial income, and, literally, the power of life or death over millions of people.

That is a scary responsibility, yet you seem to manage to perform your functions in the total absence of empathy or compassion.

Your sole driver appears to be, to leave a legacy as a superior manager of the economy.

Believe me – your hubris is such that you are blind to the mess you are making of things.

The best decision your National Cabinet made, was to make child minding free – although the way you did it actually hurt those providing the service – which was not clever.

Your decision to willfully cut short the period for which this would apply was – to use a gross understatement – woefully misguided.

Your adherence to ideology and blindness to alternative approaches is damaging the lives of a majority of Australians.

I won’t begin to talk about the damage you have done, by treating as criminals desperate refugees, for whom safe haven in Australia – where they could (and some have – in outstanding fashion) contribute to our benefit – has been denied.

Many of those people have died, some through suicide, and if you are not ashamed of yourself, then you are indeed a hollow man.

What sort of a Christian are you to put personal prestige in front of following the teaching of a man you claim to worship?

You seem to have an inexplicable hostility towards education, having severely damaged our tertiary system, ignored the incredible importance of early childhood education, and encouraged the enrichment of shonky operators in the TAFE system, so that we now need to bring in skilled tradespeople from overseas – at least pre-COVID-19!

Yet, for unfathomable reasons, you continue to shower largesse on wealthy private schools, while denying sufficient funding for desperately needed services in public schools in low socioeconomic areas, and for children with special needs.

The way in which you outsource services to for-profit organisations certainly benefits the shareholders of those organisations, but is highly detrimental to those receiving an inadequate service from insufficiently trained personnel, who belittle the skills of those who seek professional jobs, requiring skills far above the level of those job providers.

Being the Prime Minister of a multicultural country like Australia demands vision, compassion and genuine leadership.

Looking back at your career history, it is clear that your major skill is self-promotion and you have achieved advancement using methods which do you no credit.

Your “this is my leader” gesture to Malcolm Turnbull, as you schemed to replace him, showed clearly how shallow is your sense of loyalty.

Judas springs to mind.

One thing is crystal clear.

You do not have what it takes to be a leader, but you ride on the backs of others – as with the National Cabinet – while ensuring that you are the one in the limelight making the announcements – particularly if there is any kudos to be gained in the process.

Your financial treatment of those who are long term unemployed or underemployed does you no credit.

They may include a few ‘dole bludgers’, and certainly some of them may squander money on drugs – more likely cigarettes and alcohol than cocaine – it is mainly the wealthy for whom that is the drug of choice!

We need proper rehabilitation services to help those who are genuinely hooked on ice and other drugs of addiction. In fact the desperate shortage of psychological services for those with mental health problems is appalling in a wealthy country.

Another issue needing urgent attention at national level is the decriminalisation of drug use, but that will have to wait until we are back on an even keel!

The COVID-19 pandemic is a worldwide phenomenon. Who knows if or when there might be an effective vaccine.

Economically, we will inevitably suffer in consequence, and our ability to survive will not be helped by a worsening relationship with China and the mess that is the USA under Trump as POTUS.

Those are issues outside our control, where we have to adjust to their effects, but the highest priority is the survival of our citizens.

PLEASE stop putting the economy first, but remember, it is important in the context of doing the best it can to benefit those in our community who are in most need of help.

At present that is not the case.

People would not be dependent on, and stigmatised by, ‘welfare’ if government seriously considered alternatives – like a Universal Basic Income and a job guarantee.

We have people whose understanding of economics has moved on to reject neo-capitalism and ‘the market rules’ approaches.

Those viewpoints have put enormous wealth in the hands of massive corporations, while creating an ever-increasing gap between rich and poor. Look at the information gleaned from the Banking RC?

Corruption in government itself, where ‘pork barreling’ has gone way beyond something to which we can turn a blind eye, would benefit from another Fitzgerald Inquiry!

In short – this country is in a mess, and, while some of current policies have helped us suffer less than many from the pandemic, we cannot afford to be complacent and think about returning to normal – largely because there no longer is a ‘normal’!

We are now crying out for a vision that puts people’s needs first, whatever the cost

Many, reading this rant, will tell me I am wasting my time.

I disagree.

If I feel this strongly, then I am confident there are many others with similar concerns.

We cannot afford to wait for the next election.

It is dangerous at present to congregate in the streets to demand action, so maybe we need to flood our MP’s mail boxes with protests and demands for policy change!

I end as always – this is my 2020 New Year Resolution:

“I will do everything in my power to enable Australia to be restored to responsible government.”

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You’ll like it even more knowing that your donation will help us to keep up the good fight.

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22 comments

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  1. john smith

    Hi Rosemary,
    You expressed my thoughts to the T. Can I send a copy to Scomo please backing your ideas up.
    I too am in the NT Leanyer and am glad we did not let the Vics in.

  2. RomeoCharlie29

    RJ36, a comprehensive, though not exclusive, condemnation of the policies (?) and personal attributes of our accidental PM. Watching The Drum last night I became incandescent with rage at our government’s treatment of the refugees, many of whom have been in detention for more than seven years. The cruelty, the waste of money and then the hypocrisy of the (half baked) offer to those in Hong Kong. Under such circumstances it is beyond my understanding how his approval ratings remain so high. I wish he would test them at an election.

  3. RosemaryJ36

    john smith – feel free to send it to anyone! What is on social media is in the public domain, no copyright problems!
    I have been chided for not including the Indue card, but I have covered that, and Robodebt, in earlier AIM Network posts!
    I think the NT is doing well in terms of Covid-19 policy but less well on climate change.
    I play bridge in Leanyer! Small world!

  4. Baby Jewels

    Well done, Rosemary, you spoke for me.

  5. Lemarre

    It will fall on deaf ears, the Australian government has been a registered company since 1973 whose sole purpose is to make money. Scomo and all the others are just puppets doing what they are told.

  6. Phil

    I have an open letter for Scott Morrison but it will never appear here.

  7. pierre wilkinson

    and let us never discuss the high suicide rates in our wealthy economy or the lack of funding for domestic violence victims, which both get acknowledgement without action; which is so typical of this farce of a government
    alas my poor country that still seemingly believes that the government knows what it is doing (it does) but foolishly also believes the spin and hyperbole that they are working for all citizens when it is palpably obvious it is only the very wealthy that get any sort of hearing

  8. Keith Charles Coombes

    Very well said/written. I struggle with my faith since ScoMo. I cannot see any, ANY vestige of Christianity in this person. Seems to me he’s on the opposite side. Hey! Maybe he just doesn’t KNOW!

  9. Robin Alexander

    Agree absolutely everything you say Rosemary! You ticked every box or me! Hope these that are smarter then myself (82yrs)to copy forward on! But I am avid follower and I am livid with some Victorians rubbishing Dan at present?no doubt LNP lovers? Dan devoted his life love for Victorians last 8 months or more doubt he has seen precious little of his young family many times during these catastrophies? unlike PM who has enjoyed 3×2 week.holidays over same period with his wife children? FIJI this time last year Hawaii December 2/7 to 8/7 unknown Qld? Now 10/7 until 18/7 western Sydney with family break? No comparison in empathy & genuine work as Andews?

  10. Andrew Smith

    Agree that it is too easy for those on guaranteed, even if minimum such as pension, income, are happy to go along with policies that are detrimental to many, especially younger of working age with precarious or no income and/or residency status. Brexit vote was targeted at and carried by many pensioners and oldies for whom the economic and related consequences would be minimal……

  11. RosemaryJ36

    Robin Alexander – I am 84, but I did get introduced to computers more than 30 years ago and have two very tech oriented sons!
    Check out Morrison’s early career, particularly how he got pre-selection!

  12. Phil

    Andrew Smith.

    I am retired and none of my friends who are retired voted for Morrison. Brexit was a vote/referendum on immigration. Morrison and the coterie of babbling baboons masquerading as a government, are racists. Their base encompasses all ages. My daughter who is thirty, still argues/ debates with her work mates who are the same age as her and support the Morrison government. 450.000 more people voted for the Greens and Labor. Morrison has a one seat majority not a mandate.

  13. Andrew Smith

    Sure, but here at AIM we are not a representative sample of the older vote 🙂 Research shows more older people vote conservative vs. younger….. and increasing longevity is making the electorate more lopsided hence, ‘Pensioner Populism’….

    https://theconversation.com/age-breakdowns-show-huge-differences-17361

    It’s pretty much the way everywhere in the world hence the increasing numbers of middle aged and older voters, especially in regions, being catered to by conservative parties but also centre left, at the expense of younger generations.

  14. ajogrady

    An absolute repugnant travesty of justice and a corruption of all things decent and fair. The L/NP and their corrupt partners in crime the Main Stream Media beleive a good crisis should never be wasted.This crisis has created another golden opportunity for the L/NP to funnel taxpayers monies into the pockets of L/NP donors. Compare how quickly big business got welfare handouts compared to victims of the bushfires. There has been enough evidence in the public arena for many many years that the L/NP are a criminally corrupt cabal of foot soldiers for big business. The fact that the L/NP shake hands with devils and turn their backs on angels is indisputable. Greed and corruption is their religion. Lies and distortion is their game. The L/NP are a parasitic pox on good honest hard working Australians. Those “quiet” Australians who vote for the L/NP are complicit in allowing evil to triumph.The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
    if there is a battle between good and evil then the evidence surely points to the fact that evil is winning.
    Note to Sotty and his Pentecostal mates.
    “For some, religion is the cloak they wear to disguise their evil and corrupt behavior”.
    In particular Scott Morrison believes that success is the ability to go from one total failure to another total failure with no loss of enthusiasm or any sign of a conscience.

  15. crypt0

    Thank you Rosemary … you pretty much covered Scotty from Marketing.
    This modern day Judas proclaims himself a devout christian and there is not one of the mainstream church leaders (honourable exception being Rev Rod Bower, Gosford Anglican https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/gosford-anglican-churchs-father-rod-bower-and-his-signs-of-the-times-20140707-zsz5z.html ) calls him out on it … leaves me with a very jaundiced view of the values of modern day christianity.

  16. Gangey1959

    Addendum :
    As the highest paid freely elected leader in the world, you came to the electorate in 2019 with “a fair go for those who have a go” as your personal mantra.
    Thus far :
    Bushfire season fighters and victims still waiting.
    Economy (pre Covid19) in tatters.
    Climate change agenda in reverse.
    Parliamentary debate gagged.
    Government rorting of the public purse prolific and climbing.

    And yet you dare to put a time limit on when the financial lifeline for those who have been making a go of it despite the hurdles you and yours invent and create to stop us.

    Your lot LOST the recent by-election, and herr corrmann has jumped ship before the collective shit really hits the fan. How about you live up to your election promise, give us ALL a “fair go”, call a DD election now while you have a good personal rating, and take your chances with We the Voter.

    Sorry. I forgot.
    There isn’t enough left in the pork barrel to make sure of winning.

    Best piss off to somewhere offshore and let us “Lifters” get things organised properly, so that ALL Australians have what we need and deserve. The boss of quaintarse has a few planes standing around doing SFA, and you could include his worthless backside in your team. We will spot you half the fare and fuel to anywhere that will take you.

  17. Carina McNaughton

    Hi Rosemary,
    I share all of your concerns, wouldn’t it be great if the voting age was lowered so that the generation being most affected by the gig economy, crippling university debt, lack of employment, insecurity, low wages, climate change just to name a few. Instead we have a LNP pack of haves ruling over the population with silver spoons in their mouths who have no idea how the unemployed, homeless, victims of family violence live. Yes we should decriminalise drugs. Public health professionals who work in the area say harm minimisation is a much better way to go. Pork barrelling lying, money worshipping lnp need to be brought to account. We need a federal ICAC now. MSM feeds the masses lies, fear, racism and needs its own investigation the monster murdoch should be in jail along with all his cronies.

  18. Mark Shields

    Again, beautifully put RosemaryJ36. The most critical issues directly targeted; thank you for your lucid and well organised thoughts. However, I think we are still avoiding the Pinkest Elephant in the room; RELIGION: Just like how the (satanic) Trump can summon religious support by claiming God as his guide; Morrison is also puffed with Evangelical sanctimonious glory, on his delivery of worthy brethren to the afterlife. Whilst his (Morrison’s) Pentecostal god welcomes wealthy souls for their industrious lives lived for the benefit of Humanity, there seem to be no scriptures in his Canon to address the displacement of less fortunate/greedy but more educated souls, who live outside Group Mythology/Institutionalism and religious doctrine… When we finally realise that Religion is at the root of all human conflict, we might then be able to create a planet of human collaboration, where Morrison and his ilk will be reduced to what they really are; “Religious Nutters”. When we can finally do that, Humanity might just get back to studying all the Sciences, and offer further solutions to Nature’s wonderful mysteries.

  19. Jack Cade

    Gangue 1959

    Your post says it all, excepting one thing: your first ‘thus far’ item:
    the firefighters had the chance to punish the Coalition but didn’t. Labor retained the seat but suffered a reverse swing.
    The Pork barreled usually don’t bite the hands that feed them.

  20. RosemaryJ36

    I think people are confused about morality. When I was growing up, an ‘immoral’ woman was one who had sex outside marriage, and sex and morality seemed to be perpetually and inexplicably entwined! This was probably due to the Catholic demand for celibacy in its priests and nuns, although the Protestant churches were happy with married ministers of the church.
    Now I am firmly convinced that to behave morally, you need to treat others as you want to be treated (let’s not discuss S &M!) and put the needs of others before your own. Maybe those ideas stem from Christianity, because I grew up in a non-conformist Christian household, but IMHO, within the context of being a Jew, Christ was a great moral leader.
    The way in which Morrison abuses the unemployed and unfortunate clearly marks him out as not being a follower of Christ’s teachings, making his claims to follow a religion a lie! His perverse version of Pentacostalism is a cult.

  21. RosemaryJ36

    PS. I am now an agnostic, just to put minds at rest.

  22. Nitrile

    Great article Rosemary J36.

    The problem is (and we need Australia to wake up to this) is that he does not work for us. We are blindsided to believe that he is chosen by the people and therefore must work for us. Unfortunately this is so far from the truth that it makes me feel sick. The situation on the opposite side of politics is not much better. How we got to this sad position is unclear (at least to me). We most definately need an ICAC but it will never happen no matter which side is in power.

    What a fortunate position the PM finds himself in during 2020. He can bleat about the economy and how we have to open everything up while the premiers take all the responsibility for the health of our citizens.

    And as for our parliment this year WTF? How can we have these little cohorts of the 1% and fossil fuel execs replacing the normal processes of our parliment? I fear that we no longer have a democracy and we just dont realise it yet.

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