Wednesday 27 January 2016
1 Australia Day has now passed. I posted my view on why I believe Australia should become a Republic. The ferals were out (on Facebook) in force highlighting their total lack of understanding on this subject. It is truly remarkable. Most of it, I think, brought about by politicians themselves who have so demeaned public office over the years that it has become almost impossible to advance change because of the community’s mistrust of them.
As though kowtowing to the Monarchists in his party the Prime Minister in favour of a republic had this to say.
“I have led a yes case for a republic into a heroic defeat once. I have no desire to do so again,” he said. “If you really are committed to Australia becoming a republic, then you want to be sure that the manner and the timing of the referendum is as such that it is successful and that it unites rather than divides Australians.”
I thought good leaders led from the front foot. Bill Shorten may well be right when he says Turnbull is too afraid to confront his party.
2 The Australian of the year awards, in all categories had some wonderful choices. David Morisson in his speech correctly confronted the Prime Ministers assertion that it’s a good time to be Australian:
“It is an extraordinary time to be an Australian, but I need to give it qualified agreement.”
He went on to say:
” … too many of our fellow Australians are denied the opportunity to reach their potential.
It happens because of their gender, because of the god they believe in, because of their racial heritage, because they’re not able-bodied, because of their sexual orientation.”
I think this man might do a fair bit of stirring over the next 12 months.
3 And our past leader, Tony Abbott, decided that he would stand for another term in Parliament. As to why he might do so caused some differing reactions but the consensus seemed to be that it was for reasons other than servitude. On Australia Day he left the country to address the ‘Alliance Defending Freedom’, a group of far right Christian leaders in the US who are anti anything you can think of.
Quoting Fairfax:
‘The ADF has attracted trenchant criticism from the left for opposing “tolerance training” for schools aimed at reducing bullying of LGBTI students. Instead, it proposed “truth days”, in which homosexual behaviour was openly discussed as sinful’. The possibility of some speaking money might also be involved.
I’m thinking that the PM will really have to assert his authority over the party he leads. At the moment he just seems to be captive to the loonie right of which Abbott has much influence. And Abbott will become louder by the month.
Lenore Taylor got it right when she said:
“The public liked Turnbull because he seemed different to Abbott, but his colleagues voted for him because they were eventually persuaded he would be – in essence – pretty much the same.”
Or as Michael Kroger put it:
“Any guarantee Tony Abbott gives to stay on the backbench are ‘worthless’.”
I might be wrong but I should think his pension as a former PM would be more than a common backbencher which of course brings in to play other ulterior motives.
4 The latest Morgan Poll has Labor slightly improving at %45 to the Coalition %55.
5 Only in America.
US presidential hopeful Ted Cruz’s claim sexual assaults on women in Australia went up significantly after strict gun laws were introduced.
6 Not politics I know but it looks as though Australia will have a few top 10 players soon in world tennis. I wonder if the coaches of these kids teach them anything about grace and respect for the game that provides handsome financial rewards. At the moment they are just petulant undeserving brats.
7 A friend told me he heard an interview with Julie Bishop in which a journalist asked her ‘What do you really think of foreign affairs’ she answered. ‘I don’t really know. I’ve never had one’
My thought for the day.
‘Sometimes it is good to stop, think, evaluate and formulate one’s ownopinion instead of being influenced by the media and other vested interests’.
