The Life of Brian to be outlawed?
By Terence Mills
Just before Christmas Scott Morrison, without any provocation, came out and said that in 2018 he will fight back against discrimination and mockery of Christians and other religious groups in what appears to be a bid to take over from Tony Abbott and position himself as the leading religious conservative in the Turnbull Government.
Mr Morrison has also promised to play a leading role next year in the review of religious protections currently being undertaken by former Attorney-General Philip Ruddock.
It’s not clear why Scomo found it necessary to come out with this declaration right now but it seems possible that, after several years of issuing dire warnings about the spiraling government debt and expanding deficit and the need to cut spending and boost government revenues, he is finding it confusing to now be promoting corporate and personal tax cuts. I have to sympathise with him as I too find it difficult to get my head around the rationale of that economic conundrum.
Do you remember when we had a debt ceiling limiting how much the Australian government could borrow? The statutory borrowing limit was created in 2007 by the Rudd Government and set at $75 billion. It was increased in 2009 to $200 billion, $250 billion in 2011 and $300 billion in May 2012. In November 2013, Treasurer Joe Hockey requested Parliament’s approval for an increase in the debt limit from $300 billion to $500 billion, then the formal debt ceiling was abandoned altogether. Just as well as gross government debt has now exceeded $550 billion – more than double that inherited from those profligate drunken sailors in the Labor Party – and the annual interest bill is in the order of $18 billion.
So, if you were Scott Morrison wouldn’t you adopt the look over there policy and redirect the national focus away from fiscal management and call for us to rally under another banner for a new cause, in this case a religious crusade?
The odd thing is that Morrison and the Coalition have in the past strenuously argued in favour of absolute freedom of speech and opposed any protections for those who may be offended, insulted, humiliated or intimidated by another person or a group of people based on the race, colour or national or ethnic origin of the other person or of some or all of the people in the group. That’s right, section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act was utterly offensive to the Coalition and impinged on their absolute commitment to unfettered freedom of speech. But now they appear to want to introduce protections which are almost identical but apply to religious groups, particularly Christian groups but inevitably if they get their way those protections will have to apply to all believers. I’m not sure that the IPA and Pauline Hanson will be happy about that.
What worries me most is that the Ruddock Enquiry could lead to the formation of a religious police squad as part of the Dutton SS with blokes in polyester suits and clip-on ties ranging through the suburbs seeking out clandestine DVD copies of the Life of Brian. I’m going to hide my copy in a cover of Susan Boyle sings Christmas Album 2015.
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Return to home pageI would love to say to Scott Morrison “Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries. I fart in your general direction.”
I am expecting one of Peter Dutton’s white vans to turn up any moment. If I type the word bananas, send help.
It’s good to see Scotty has found his true vocation, because he’s certainly been shit as a treasurer.
Or to paraphrase a little bit more Python,
“All right, I am the Morrison! Now fck off!
“How shall we fck off, Oh Scott?”
Kaye, do you want my address to pass on to the Dutton White Van Brigade when they show up?
Back to watching The Young Ones “Interesting” episode.
Well, this is what this government is all about. Applying protections to people it values. You can have free speech, as long as you agree with what the government says. Let us hope that it blows up in their faces and leaves them covered in shit.
CP…’and leaves them covered in shit’ I like the thought that when it blows up in their face it won’t alter their facial appearance, but will leave them as they are.
Scott Morrison plays the role of George Costanza in a show about nothing.
My opinion is that we should have absolute unfettered freedom of speech and if someone gets upset then, too bad. No need then for absurd laws.
No public nuisance arguments against please. That’s a different matter.
What about those who can’t defend themselves? Hey, that’s our job.
The Treasurer is on a winner. Think how much mileage the LNP got out of the press in 2017. What fun it must be to see self-deluding journos chasing up stories on SSM, the citizenship debacle and the bribing sagas. These things could have been solved in-house with a bit of intelligence, but why bother. If the plan is to use journos to distract the public from more important issues like running the economy, then the LNP’s on target.
A Mockery, that’s what we need. A bloody good Mockery. And who better to lead such a Crusade than Scummo?
Remember ‘Where the bloody hell are you?’? The campaign he launched to entice people to come TO Australia? Yeah, ok, he was exiled to NZ as his reward. But he made a Mockery of that. His first gig in politics was Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (and, later, as Minister), where he quickly made a name for himself keeping people OUT of Australia.
Then, having been so successful, he was quickly elevated to Minister for Social Services, where he famously exorcised (bloody spell check, exercised) his Christian values by throwing those in need under the proverbial bus. A Mockery. See? He’s really good at it!
Once again, he was so good, he was elevated to Treasurer. And he has been sooooo good, he doesn’t even need to talk about it anymore. Another Mockery. If that doesn’t spell out his credentials to lead such a campaign, nothing will.
As for religion and his use of a dog whistle to vilify some religious folk while extolling the virtues of others, you may have missed this;
“However, Morrison argued in his maiden speech “My personal faith in Jesus Christ is not a political agenda.”
It seems only fair that he will defend the institutions that promote Christianity, through his unholy alliance with the cadaver who walks, whilst participating in the governments Crusade against any charities that actually advocate for the promotion of ‘Christian values’, if they happen to conflict with government policy.
As an aside, your reference to Life of Brian;
“What worries me most is that the Ruddock Enquiry could lead to the formation of a religious police squad as part of the Dutton SS with blokes in polyester suits and clip-on ties ranging through the suburbs seeking out clandestine DVD copies of the Life of Brian.”
brought me to read from their Wiki;
“Despite them all sharing a distrust of organised religion, they agreed not to mock Jesus or his teachings directly. They also mentioned that they could not think of anything legitimate to make fun of about him. Instead, they decided to write a satire on credulity and hypocrisy among the followers of someone who had been mistaken for the “Messiah”, but who had no desire to be followed as such.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_Python
A Mockery, that’s what we need. This bloke has made a Mockery of everything he’s touched. He’s been so good that his ministerial colleagues have taken to making a Mockery out of government. It seems only fair and reasonable that he now leads a Crusade Against Mockery.
Surely there’s votes in that?
Thank you Mr Mills and commenters. Take care
From “Plato & a Platypus Walk into a Bar …. Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes”
Three men are standing at the gates of Heaven. The Facilitator asks the first one, “Religion?”
“Atheism.” The Facilitator looks down his list. “Atheists in Room 56 and could you be very quiet as you pass Room 8? Next.”
The second man steps forward.
“Religion?”
“Islam.”
“Hmmm, Muslims in Room 48 and please be quiet as you pass Room 8? Next. Religion?”
The third man answers, “Judaism.”
“OK, Jews in Room 35 and please be quiet as you pass Room 8″
The Jew says,”I heard you tell the others that; what’s this thing about Romm 8?”
The Facilitator says,”That room’s for Christians; they think they’re the only ones here.”
Of course, any of the religions could be in Room 8.
This effing Morrisy bloke is a mockery! EVERYTHING he has ever had anything to do with he has proven to be a lying, inept bloody Liberal shit! He CANNOT “manage” our finances (nor can ANY of the Libs!), he cannot “manage” ANYTHING to do with our economy etc, He is just another lying, inept, obscenely over-paid, so-called “Liberal” would be politician. And now this idiot is trying to “protect” (?) religions etc! WTF?? Your words, as usual, sum up this dickhead beautifully Terence, well done!
Has Morrison been charged by god to embark on a sacred quest? I fear He shall endure many taunts and much mockery
silkworm – he was shit at the other jobs (Immigration and social services) they gave him. He appears to like persecuting those that are unable to defend themselves.
It will be so funny watching the spin that Murdoch’s trained lap dogs, like Bolt, who were such avid massagers of the line we have to have total freedom of speech!
When I was doing my nasho in Vietnam as a tunnel rat in 2 troop, 1 field sqdn.RAE in 69/70, there was a spate of ‘fraggings’ of officers amongst the US ‘grunts’, basically killing their no nothing leaders who kept leading them into mayhem. We did not resort to that, we ignored them and treated them with the contempt they deserved. When I see this scumbag Morrison it takes me back to that time.
Oh what a shame I was planning to finish my church funeral service with ‘Always look on the brightside’!
I don’t think Morrison rates as Australian. He may well be AN Australian, but he’s surely not of the vernacular Australia. No true blue Australian would set himself up for mockery in front of a nation that defines itself by its love of mockery.
Scott Morrison, old mate – way, way too much happy-clappy on Sundays makes for a very sad soul – lighten up pal – grow some skin.
Not too long ago the Bible was used to justify slavery but when they could no longer keep slaves they changed their position. In the Old Testament god sent his people to kill everyone including children except girls because they could keep them as sex slaves and do to them as they please.
And 500 continuous years of killing “witches” because thats what god wanted .
Then the almighty one who created everything messed up so very badly he just had to send his own son to be beaten shitless then nailed to a cross and killed because he loved us so much, but apparently not so his own son, and there’s plenty more “godly” wisdom to be read about, even after holding back the development of the human race for hundreds of years some of us still believe this crap. “he’s not the massier he’s just a very naughty boy”, happy holidays .
You do realise that the Monty Pythons Life of Brian was banned in QLD for 7 years under the Bjelke-Peanutson Govt? It is actually written on some of the DVD covers.