More on Tony Abbott
When I need to cheer myself up (and I've needed to this week) I can always rely on Tony Abbott who is Australia's federal Health Minister to do something to entertain. This week Tony and events surrounding him have been excellent value. I mentioned him previously here.
Last week Mr Abbott described an opposition frontbencher as a "snivelling grub" for use of which unparliamentary language Mr Abbott was not suspended from parliament for any period. In fact when challenged to withdraw the unparliamentary language Mr Abbott responded with "If I have offended grubs I withdraw unconditionally".
Yesterday Julia Gillard who is a senior Labour (opposition) frontbench figure used the same term in parliament to refer to Mr Abbot who at the time was on his hind legs and delivering a speech. Her precise words as reported in the media were "Mr Speaker, I move that that snivelling grub over there be no further heard." The Speaker of the house ordered her to withdraw and her response was: "If I have offended grubs I withdraw unconditionally".
For this she was slung out for 24 hours by the Speaker.
Gillard insists that the Speaker David Hawker is guilty of double standards. Hawker insists that Gillard is guilty of defying the Chair.
Now Gillard's been slung out by the Speaker for the second day running. At least today she was not alone as three other opposition parliamentarians were also been ordered out. Tony Abbott was once again in the thick of things, bringing about their suspension by accusing the four of standing in front of TV cameras in the House of Representatives "in ways which are clearly designed to block the camera shot of the Prime Minister while he was giving answers".
Gillard explained that Labor MPs often walk around during Government ministers' answers because they are not worth listening to, but she was actually slung out after calling Abbott an "idiot".
Gillard is wrong on at least two counts.
First of all Abbott is not an idiot. If he were an idiot he would not be nearly as dangerous as he clearly is. Secondly, and given the danger he presents his answers at least are well worth listening to with great care and attention.
The fact that he isn't an idiot does not preclude foolishness and now allegations have surfaced about a prize piece of foolishness that seems to me to be both sadly in keeping with the generally low standards of behaviour in public office practiced by senior Liberal party figures and indicative of a certain fin de siecle-ish hubris within the inner circles of the Liberal Party.
What depresses me is not the robustness of the language (which after all is tame as measured against the Keating Standard) but the manipulation of parliament. Abbott's boss John Howard recently marked his 10th full year as Prime Minister by which juncture any other premier would find his thoughts turning more and more to posterity and the concomitant necessity to adopt a more statesmanlike mien. Increasingly it seems that Howard is fundamentally incapable of loftier pursuits but will remain to the end of his political life doggedly in the gutter pursuing every immediate political advantage by what ever sharp means are at his disposal.
Last week Mr Abbott described an opposition frontbencher as a "snivelling grub" for use of which unparliamentary language Mr Abbott was not suspended from parliament for any period. In fact when challenged to withdraw the unparliamentary language Mr Abbott responded with "If I have offended grubs I withdraw unconditionally".
Yesterday Julia Gillard who is a senior Labour (opposition) frontbench figure used the same term in parliament to refer to Mr Abbot who at the time was on his hind legs and delivering a speech. Her precise words as reported in the media were "Mr Speaker, I move that that snivelling grub over there be no further heard." The Speaker of the house ordered her to withdraw and her response was: "If I have offended grubs I withdraw unconditionally".
For this she was slung out for 24 hours by the Speaker.
Gillard insists that the Speaker David Hawker is guilty of double standards. Hawker insists that Gillard is guilty of defying the Chair.
Now Gillard's been slung out by the Speaker for the second day running. At least today she was not alone as three other opposition parliamentarians were also been ordered out. Tony Abbott was once again in the thick of things, bringing about their suspension by accusing the four of standing in front of TV cameras in the House of Representatives "in ways which are clearly designed to block the camera shot of the Prime Minister while he was giving answers".
Gillard explained that Labor MPs often walk around during Government ministers' answers because they are not worth listening to, but she was actually slung out after calling Abbott an "idiot".
Gillard is wrong on at least two counts.
First of all Abbott is not an idiot. If he were an idiot he would not be nearly as dangerous as he clearly is. Secondly, and given the danger he presents his answers at least are well worth listening to with great care and attention.
The fact that he isn't an idiot does not preclude foolishness and now allegations have surfaced about a prize piece of foolishness that seems to me to be both sadly in keeping with the generally low standards of behaviour in public office practiced by senior Liberal party figures and indicative of a certain fin de siecle-ish hubris within the inner circles of the Liberal Party.
What depresses me is not the robustness of the language (which after all is tame as measured against the Keating Standard) but the manipulation of parliament. Abbott's boss John Howard recently marked his 10th full year as Prime Minister by which juncture any other premier would find his thoughts turning more and more to posterity and the concomitant necessity to adopt a more statesmanlike mien. Increasingly it seems that Howard is fundamentally incapable of loftier pursuits but will remain to the end of his political life doggedly in the gutter pursuing every immediate political advantage by what ever sharp means are at his disposal.
posted by Enyo @ 1:09 pm
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