Tuesday, February 24, 2015

hash tag #timetogoTony

This was not my intended post tonight. I had a for more interesting topic. But the unfolding attack on  Human Rights Commission President Gillian Triggs is a step too far.

I accept that this may be seen as partisan, but in all my criticisms of Mr Abbott I have tried to be balanced. Whether Professor Triggs was partisan or unbalanced is neither here nor there. You don't play the man or women in this way. The new hash tag 

Postscript
Seriously, this is just a bridge too far. I find the hash tag already exists, perhaps that's not surprising, but please promote.

Postscript 2
This is some of this morning's media coverage on the Triggs matter: here, here, here, here, here, here and also Michelle Grattan and then on the ABC's the Drum. I have included the last because of the comment stream. I think that the Grattan piece is especially worth reading. It concludes:
Abbott, in a blustering question time performance, professed to know nothing about the Brandis offer. “I do not claim to be across what may or may not have been canvassed between the President of the Human Rights Commission and the Attorney or indeed any other member of this government,” he told the House. 
“All I know is that this government has lost confidence in the President of the Human Rights Commission,” repeating his claim that the inquiry had been a stitch up. 
Is it really credible Abbott wasn’t briefed on the discussions with Triggs? 
The government is trying to force out the head of a statutory body, the issue is being fiercely contested at a committee hearing on the day, and the Prime Minister says he is not across it!
If this is true, he is guilty of arrogance or negligence.
Reflecting on the situation towards the end of the day, Brandis told the committee, “I don’t know where we go from here”. Indeed. The government, one might say, had stitched itself up.
I am not close enough to understand the detail of the Triggs matter. However, I struggle to understand the pattern of behavior of the Government and especially that displayed by the PM. I am tired of it and just wish it would go away!

Postscript 3

In the midst of the debate over Gillian Triggs' role, kvd wondered why there had been so little discussion on the matters revealed by the Liberal Party's Federal Treasurer and particularly this quote:
Mr Higginson wrote that he had raised $70 million since 2011 and recently "laid out my plans to the PM" to travel to the United States to raise "tens of millions" from donors.
kvd wondered why there had "been little outcry over the email from the treasurer of the Libs calmly stating that he was/is seeking financial support from US corporations?"

Returning to Professor Triggs, it appears that Malcolm Turnbull does not quite share the Abbott/Brandis angst.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Be kind of ironic if a prime ministership built on three word slogans is undermined by a one word hashtag. What's the next step in that trend? Here is a more reasoned explanation of just why his and Brandis' behavior is unacceptable:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-24/bradley-brandis-or-triggs-must-go-and-it-shouldnt-be-her/6251370

But aside from that, I'm still puzzling over why there has been little outcry over the email from the treasurer of the Libs calmly stating that he was/is seeking financial support from US corporations?

kvd

Jim Belshaw said...

Hi kvd. I have brought that ABC piece up among other via a postscript.

Fair point on the email if it is as your report.

Anonymous said...

Mr Higginson wrote that he had raised $70 million since 2011 and recently "laid out my plans to the PM" to travel to the United States to raise "tens of millions" from donors.

From here, and other reports:

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/dramatic-split-in-pms-power-base-over-finances-and-credlin-leaked-emails-reveal-20150224-13mokb.html

kvd

Jim Belshaw said...

Thanks, kvd. Will follow up.

Anonymous said...

Yes - I apologise for that.

The quote was American "donors" not "corporations". All quotes should at least be accurate.

kvd

Evan said...

This is typical of Tony. Admit no error. Attack.

It's a long while since conservatives (sic) had respect for existing institutions I think (roughly since the neo-con's in the 80's I think).

Jim Belshaw said...

Hi kvd.No apologies necessary. Still problematic!

A while ago, Evan, I wrote a post called Why I wasn't a conservative. Perhaps a revised recantation post.

Seriously, and I note the sic, its hard to see how you can describe the new right spectrum as conservative in the old sense of the word.

Evan said...

Agreed

2 tanners said...

Take 0.5 kilo of chicken thigh fillet. Finely slice a large onion, 3 cloves of garlic and gently fry until golden brown. Add a heaped teaspoon of turmeric powder (or the actual root, shredded, if you can get it) and two aromatic chilis. For those with sensitive tastes or stomachs, also add coconut cream until the heat is tolerable. Caorsely dice the thigh fillet and slowly braise for about 40 minutes. During this time, cook rice (google 'absorption method'). 5 minutes from the end, add some green veggies. Let stand for 5 minutes after cooking. Serve rice and Burmese chicken curry.

Congratulations. Delicious meal, heaps of praise and you haven't thought about Federal politics for an hour.

Jim Belshaw said...

Yum. This deserves a post in its own right!