Abbott’s charge falters
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Pickett’s Charge was the high-water mark of the Confederacy in the Civil War, when Robert E. Lee disastrously gambled he could break the Union line at Gettysburg, capping his incursion into the North with the defeat of Meade’s Army of the Potomac, thereby demonstrating to the world that the South could not merely resist the North, it could strike deep into its heart. After its inevitable failure, the South could never again dream of an improbable victory against a more powerful opponent. In months to come, Coalition MPs might feel that this was the week when their faint hopes of victory this year, aroused by Tony Abbott’s ascension, were snuffed out. If there was a Pickett’s Charge moment, when the hitherto-frenetic attack faltered in the face of a desperate, but ultimately well-organised, defence, it was in Question Time this week, when the Opposition failed to pressure Garrett or the Government. There were poor tactics — we are now, unbelievably, up to 31 censure motions from the Opposition in the past two years — poor questions (Greg Hunt asking on Tuesday why Garrett hadn’t mentioned a phone number in an interview was probably the moment Garrett realised he was safe) and poor judgement from backbenchers in giving the Government material to throw back at them. And there’s the growing sense that this Opposition only has one gear, and no options when that one doesn’t work. It was a close-run thing, but Garrett organised his own defence well enough to hold out against his assailants, while the Prime Minister desperately worked to get the Government onto the front foot on the issue. This was duly done yesterday with Rudd himself going out to talk to visiting installers and announcing an assistance program to tide the sector over until the new scheme was up and running. Today, Rudd told a special Caucus meeting that MPs had to get out there and front installers like he had done. There was nothing glamorous or brilliant about it. It was simply solid defensive work by a Government that knew it was under the hammer. Had the Coalition seriously rattled Garrett — and what would Malcolm Turnbull with his forensic approach and withering sarcasm been able to do? — and the big bloke had fallen, the Opposition would have developed real momentum and inflicted a significant psychological defeat on the Government. Instead, it has to accept that, even with a press gallery baying for Garrett’s head and the media systematically misreporting how Garrett and his department addressed the program risks, it has been unable to nail him. Coalition MPs might reflect on what might have been for quite some time to come. |
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52 Comments
Bernard keep this flattery of Rudd up much longer and I’m sure he’s going to “have you down” at the Lodge.
My God your pathetic.
Are you seriously trying to say that Rudd and Garrett have not been damaged by this fiasco?
I hear what your saying, but ‘saving Garrett’ in the end is simply a matter of him not resigning or being fired, it’s not actually up to the opposition. The question is whether it’s better for the Government in terms of support to have kept him or ditched him, given the pressure exerted by the opposition and there friends in the media?
Despite all the Coalition blunders in parliament, they have been making steady if not overwhelming gains in the polls, and that’s all that really matters. Something about the new approach is getting some amount of improved traction. Admittedly the early days of Malcolm’s leadership saw a similar trend, the question is whether or not a Utegate style event, or something else, will turn things back the other way.
Labor’s problem is that Abbott and Joyce say things far worse, and make bigger over-reaches than Turnbull did in Utegate every week, but because that’s simply their way it doesn’t have anything like the same effect.
I had to read this article twice, thinking after the first read that maybe you were being sarcastic? or funny? but after the second read I realise your being serious. I think you neede to open your other eye.
I was wondering where all the anti-Rudd had gone … but they’re here, making comments.
I agree with you Bernard. The opposition shot off their gun too soon, and then have laboured the point beyond it’s attention span. Now they are sounding like whining kids who can’t take no for an answer.
If, or when, the mainstream media decide to start reporting the truth (which they probably can’t since they jumped into the hole with both feet and will look incredibly silly if they change tune now) the opposition will be in big trouble.
As with utegate, the media took the sniff of a story and ran with it without checking the veracity of its sources. When the truth came out it damaged Turnbull badly. Abbott is digging himself into a similar grave and of course, Barnaby is doing his best to throw egg all over him and his colleagues as well.
Surfer, please point out which part of the article is incorrect.
Whether you like it or not, the Libs have stuffed their chance to get Garrett removed.
If the Opposition was still being led by Malcolm Turnbull, Garrett would be history.
Abbott is still in his ‘honeymoon’ period, and it remains to be seen whether the bump in opinion poll can be maintained. The double dissolution trigger will be over mean testing of 30% health rebate, and the issue is popular for Labor. More importantly, Tony Abbott has been known to make ‘careless remarks’. This is the single reason why he was never considered a serious candidate during the Howard years despite his credentials. Can he keep his mouth shut? Can a leopard change its spots? We will see..
Funny how this so often touted (in so much of the popular media) “politician of conviction” can pull up on a 5cent piece, when pursuing Garrett - with all the hysteria he could muster, on the very public parliamentary stage, for our TV grabs, and other coverage - whom he has been asserting was “culpable” in the deaths of those 4 installers - so soon after Joyce started copping his “previous” caning, and after a few days from the last death - and in just 24 hours have no questions for that same “miscreant” in that same forum.
But never fear, up here in “Q”, “Murdoch” has taken up the cause - “Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues”.
Anyone see Heather Ridout on Lateline last night? She’s not in the sort of “sympathy apoplexy” some journo’s are in with the Coal-ition - probably why she has the job she has, and why some “journo’s do what they do”!
Some just never get out enough!
‘The Opposition only has one gear’. Is completely accurate. They need to understand they died before nailing the corpse together again, and painting a Tony Abbott face on it.
Ah Johnny Howard what a decoy/delayed-fuse you left behind you. The poor buggers are so busy running to you for advice on a potential leader they’ve forgotten it’s the Party that died, not you.
The Liberals are so fascinated wih their own innards/entrails they don’t seem to understand the reality that you, JWH, took a political party, you drove it into the ground, and it’s your own vanity which keeps the illusion alive. You must be running out of stiffs by now. I know, your next shot should be Kevin Andrews.
Don’t tell me! You harbour the illusion that they might turn to you to lead it. That is a very funny scenario.
Jesus, Bernard. Baiting your critics like this is where it becomes so easy for them to call you to a trollumnist. How *dare* anyone suggest that perhaps minister Garrett might, just might, have a case to answer in all this? Where’s the critical thinking of the merits or otherwise of his case? I really look forward to your better columns, but sneering at your perceived audience/enemies like this is just tawdry writing (though no doubt you smirk at the fact).
Insulation is boring.
No one was ever going to remember this by the time of the election.
Critical thinking??
Are you serious Lacquer?
This is Crikey man!
The last bastion of the revolution.
Critical thinking is always allowed - so long as its not directed to the Left.
I’m rusted on until Rudd gets belted.
Wanna see his moist, dribbly, pink bottom lip quiver like a little schoolboy when Abbott takes over.
If all else fails … some facts about the actual problem, not the misreporting for preset agendas
http://blogs.crikey.com.au/pollytics/2010/02/24/risk-and-incompetence-in-an-insulated-media/
Everything dynamic and very positively!
The Liberals are so fascinated wih their own innards/entrails they don’t seem to understand the reality that you, JWH, took a political party, you drove it into the ground, and it’s your own vanity which keeps the illusion alive. You must be running out of stiffs by now. I know, your next shot should be Kevin Andrews.
Despite all the Coalition blunders in parliament, they have been making steady if not overwhelming gains in the polls, and that’s all that really matters
wrinkle Cream
sigh
Surfer trouble with you, you have Abbotts problem, shoot off at the mouth without the brain in gear (gueess there is one in that cavity)I seem to recall Minister Garrett was still sitting on the front bench in QT today as a Minister. Like to have a little wager he will still be a Minister come election time? Of course he will. Rudd is playing attacking shots on the front foot and the boandaries are being scored.Very clever politician that PM.
The Libs were always going to struggle with ‘ministerial responsibility => resignation’. Too many ex-Howard ministers still around for that line to sound credible.
Oh, Gordon Bennett, Bernard.
Come hither ALP nymphs and intellectually masturbate on the coalition.
This one-sided commentary is the reason I refuse to subscribe to Crickey - half-price or good deal or whatever. It’s the content that matters. Not surprised you attract trolls like MPM.
No doubt earnest you will be very much more at home in the Bolt and Akerman blogs, ‘right’ up your whatsaname. Like mpm your passing will not be a momentous happening. You wont subscibe to Crikey but cant help reading the free bits, bludger, you qualify as a Lib.
This has been such a media beat up, orchestrated by ‘The Australian” (News Lts) seeking to protect its many vested interests and the circus has been joined by the media pack, like the flock of sheep they are!
And where can you read what Peter Garrett has to say? Hardly a word has been published, but it’s all there at …http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/reps/
Like…”There are many Australians who recognise that there are responsibilities which attach to anybody coming into your home and to anybody doing work in your home. That responsibility lies in part with those who are doing the work—to observe the appropriate and proper regulations that are in place, to be informed of them and to follow them. That is an expectation that I think everybody listening to me respond to this censure motion in the House will recognise. It is also the responsibility of the government to ensure it has in place measures that will enable that to happen. That is what has happened all through the period of the Home Insulation Program and, consequent on my receipt of the most recent advice, on our then embarking on a program to transition into the future.”
Where was Tony Abbott when Vivien Alvarez was wrongly dumped in the Phillipines, when she was an Australian resident, by the Immigration Department? Or when Vornelia Rau was being hosed down naked in Baxter. I don’t recall him demanding Philip Ruddock resign.
Where was he when Alexander Downer boasted that he couldn’t possibly read all his department briefs, in relation to the AWB paying Saddam Hussein millions in bribes to sell Australian wheat and his not being informed of it? No calls then for Downer to resign.
Where was Abbott when Dr Haneef was bundled up in a hessian bag and treated like a terrorist for having handed on his SIM card? I don’t recall Tony Abbott, bloated with moral righteousness and concern for his fellow man, demanding Andrews resign, when his case was shown to have no substance. And what about during “Children Overboard”, cooked up in the John Howard’s own department? Did Tony Abbott demand Peter Reith’s resignation over that, or wonder how Philip Ruddock could know that something that didn’t happen was “premiditated”?
Spare us Tony Abbott. Your confected hysteria is transparent. Peter Garrett has no reason to resign and you know it.
So do most of the media hacks, who are content to feed a struggling newspaper market with sensationalist trash.
It seems that it never matters when the Ministers who deserve close scrutiny and public outrage are members of the Coalition. But God forgive that they should ever belong to the ALP!
CliffG bloody well said. There is something so sick about the continued throwing up of the deaths of 4 Australians,not directly caused by Minister Garrett according to the hypocrite right wing Christian Abbott, but his fault anyway. Day after day at every chance he gets, Abbott churns out the same theme, to hell with the families concerned, does he think they want their deaths used as political fodder by Abbott and his gutter dwelling henchmen. This is Opposition tactics at its lowest and Abbott knows all about sinking to low depths. Catholics in this country should be ashamed of him.
Bernard, the damage has been done to Rudd and Garrett regardless of whether he resigned or was sacked - just look at all the various polls that have been conducted since. With Rudd being firmly on the back foot, I doubt that it would have been a good political move to sack a minister given it would have been another win for the Coalition. I live in London and even here there was an article, albeit small, on the whole affair.
I don’t really care for either party but I do find it quite unbelievable that the left, most probably the extreme left, cannot see how this policy has failed. To bring up “there are many industrial accidents each year” is just puerile and illustrates that they do not understand the importance of effective policy implementation.
Garrett failed but I heed some confidence that the electorate knows he failed!
dcmsailing:
Thanks for the link. Very imformative. At least Possum sees fit to dissect the actual facts behind the whole thing. Bernard though, witty as he may be, too often acts like the Richard James of Australian journalism.
@Raymond - the probable class action against the government shows that the victims families are very pi**ed off and thankful that the government has been held to account…
Not my point at all Mr Dynamite as well you know, but of course in true lib fashion you twist the words. I did say the continued bringing up of the deaths day after day as if it was Garrett who personally threw some switch that caused the deaths. Im sure the families were p off and am equally sure Abbotts political theatrics using their sons deaths will not be appreciated. You say you care for neither party, really? Read your posts again, you make no effort to conceal your leanings.
Ahh, so again the labor faithful are out and about. A few conciliatory words from their labor priest and they praise at his alter of perceived wisdom.
Remarkable that a common defence invoked by these labor staffers and supporters is that of John Howard and that in his day he did this and that … John Howard is no longer Prime Minister - Kevin Rudd is. This is not yesterday, it is today. And what matters is what the current government are, or are not doing right now - period.
What matters is that this scheme of Peter Garret’s was rushed out too quickly. I don’t know of any private sector company that spends more than $2 billion on a project with only a couple of months of planning and expect it to succeed. That is $2 billion, with next to no planning.
Even that wily minister of finance, Lindsay Tanner, admitted they did not have time to dot the “i’s and cross the t’s”. An extraordinary admission. This is $2 billion you are spending son, of my money, find the time!
There are 4 people dead, find the bloody time!
It is this reckless behaviour by the ministers and the Prime Minister, not the bureaucrats, and not the opposition, which is to blame. That is the essence of this issue.
If Rudd and his mates weren’t being so busy trying to score points by spending billions of dollars of our money without any substantial planning (as admitted by Tanner), this scheme may just have worked, 4 people may be alive, many houses probably would not have burnt down and up to 100,000 houses would not have to be inspected for fear of being electrical death traps.
The shame here is all labor’s. No amount of posturing and spin doctoring or invoking John Howard’s name will change that.
In any private sector company, small or large, Garrett would have been sacked. And in any other year, Garrett would have been sacked. For the sake of winning an election Rudd is hanging onto him.
That is all there is to it!
RAYMONDCHURCH.
I rest my case.
:=)
I do not normally comment, but I have for once.
Raymond Church, you have no case, and you obviously have no conscience. Your obsession clearly is politics, and not the lives of others. You are obsessed with protecting your labor colleagues or friends, and you are willing to sacrifice an incredibly obvious truth to do it.
Myself, I have many labor and liberal friends, and they are all good people, not fanatical ideologues obsessed with always being right or just winning an argument for the sake of it.
And when they are wrong, they step up, on both sides of the political fence, and admit it. But when people like you (and there are many people like you on both sides) try and defend the indefensible, everybody cringes. You are a fool, and you should know when to be quiet. Read what I have written again, it is not wrong.
Take a cold shower Raymond Church and stop big noting yourself. You are wrong for once, just accept it!
@Callum
‘It is this reckless behaviour by the ministers and the Prime Minister, not the bureaucrats, and not the opposition, which is to blame. That is the essence of this issue.’
Callum you’ve been listening to the mainstream press rather than taking the time to see the actual evidence.
Where is the responsibility of the actual installers in the case of these deaths? Heat Stroke (one of the deaths) cannot be blamed on the minister — that is the employer’s responsibility. Someone dying from metal clips AFTER they were banned was not the minister’s fault either — after all he banned them — was he supposed to go to every installer and check they’d gotten rid of the offending fasteners?
Would you blame the chief of police if a child is struck on a pedestrian crossing because a driver was speeding in a school zone? Of course not. There were rules that were broken.
Until the enquiries have been conducted, we won’t KNOW who is responsible for these deaths.
It is hilarious when you think about it. There are still people who believe Lindy Chamberlain killed her baby, despite the fact that she has been completely exonerated. Then, as now, it was trial by media. Everyone, you, I and every other bloody voyeur in the country had an opinion on what happened to Azaria, just as all the pundits and all the journalist and Aunt Nellie in woop woop all seem to know what happened to these poor men.
We Do Not. Nor does Tony Abbott. Or Greg Hunt. Everything else is supposition — and in a democracy, supposition means nothing.
I think that you are judging the situation by what people that follow politics closely think , ie they are bored with it. I keep meeting people who have only just found out about it and are now worried about their house. Our local papers are this week full of ads from electricitions wanting to check for faulty insulation. I don’t mind that garrett is still there, hanging in the breeze, it will only remind people what happened.I think B Joyce’s line about ” if you cannot run a pink bat program, how do you run a country?’ is one that will make sense to a lot of people. Ordinary people understand that this has been stuffed up, and now, might effect them. Peter Garrett needs to get his act together and save the koalas in the Tweed, then this curse may be lifted.
We don’t blame the health minister for every death at a hospital nor the ageing minister for every death at an aged care home. We don’t even (usually) blame the health minister for hospital deaths arising from stuff-ups as long as the stuff-ups are actioned upon. We haven’t heard much about State Industrial Relations ministers in this matter yet they’re responsible for occupational health and safety, and it will ultimately be OHS issues which have massively contributed to the deaths of the workers. While Peter Garrett needed to ensure that risk management was undertaken given the substantial taxpayer investment in a relatively sensible scheme, the fact is that risks would have continued to exist under any circumstances. Four men have died, and this is terrible. But we don’t regard the Snowy Mountains scheme as a political or national disaster, and it cost many more workers’ lives. This is not to trivialise any worker dying. But in a world where workplace deaths occur, the measure of the success or failure of this scheme needs to consider how much work has been done in the totality of the scheme and how the incidence of fatal industrial accidents compares with the usual incidence across similar industries. The incidence of fires relating to insulation needs to be considered in the same light. Ultimately, Garrett could have done more but hindsight is a terrible fantasy, particularly as it relates to workplace deaths.
I won’t credit any claim that Garrett should resign from anyone who didn’t just as strongly call for the resignation of Downer over the AWB scandal. Not paying $300 million bucks towards the cost of assisting the very bloke our soldiers were sent to fight is a damn sight easier than trying to second-guess the management capacities of the literally hundreds of businesses across the country which assessed the skills of workers they sent into the nation’s rooves on government coin.
Turnbull’s forensic approach? How did that work for him during the Godwin Grech affair?
The left commentariat’s irrational hatred of Abbott, therefore deifying anyone more left than him in order to score cheap political points, is hypocritical and inconsistent.
At least have the integrity to recognise that Turnbull was anything but forensic in his time as Opposition Leader.
News moment of the week: Rudd meets insulation industry the day before Parliament rises.
Scene: After meeting industry representatives, listening, taking notes, announcing a bridging assitance package, Prime Minister Rudd walks back to Parliament house and non-Prime Minister Abbott.
Rudd - they’re all yours mate. I’ve warmed up for you
Abbott to Installers: So could he give you any help?
Installers: Well’ yes actually it was a very productive meeting. He was great.
Abbott: ok then, umm perhaps I could lead you all in a prayer (backs away as unobtrusively as possible)
f#cking priceless
@Raymond - not really and the fact that you assume that I am a Liberal because I merely criticised the left is one of the many reasons I hate both major parties, particularly yours.
Please, SVH, tell me that’s what really happened.
Eponymous apart from the prayer bit (which to be fair to Abbott really isn’t a catholic sorta thing) that’s almost it verbatim. You should have seen abbott’s face
Good one “Princess B” - nailed in one - as the original Hatter so profoundly noted
“Twinkle Twinkle Little Bat
How I wonder what you’re at …..”.
But this one, at his own “t” party seems to have mixed them up too?
Callum you do not usually comment I suggest you stick to that rule, you cant see the woods for the trees. In fact you see only that, which you wish to see. Read jenauthor, daveliberts.
You have many labor and lib friends and they are all good people,so that makes you unique? well aren’t you just the fairy on top of the tree. For your info, I have criticised PM Rudd many times, but on this Abbott has form as a head kicker for political purposes and if you dont accept that then it is you who are the fanatic
“Peter Garrett Should Be Sacked Because ……….. (by Seymour Clearly-Wright Gr V)
Because BG (even b4 PMR) there was the same sort of insulation method in existence, for some years, to little noticeable consternation, and
because G inherited a PS departmental culture inoculated and nurtured for almost 12 years by the previous government, paying their bills, to bugger all noticeable influential consternation, and
because of the GFC and “global warming” this scheme was seen to tick several boxes - employment, investment, power costs, power/C generation, and
because that “installation system”, and it’s regulation, was overseen by the states, to little note, and
because the states crying their usual “poor” when presented with responsibility for continuation of oversight of the scheme, were probably seen to be doing their usual “Linda Ronstadt” (“Poor, Poor, Pitiful Me”), and
because there were deaths, even in those earlier conveniently “irrelevant” years, in the same industry, to little noticeable consternation, and
because from that first “death of neo-relevance” to the fourth and “last”, there was little noticeable consternation, and
because in the interim of a few days after that fourth death, there was some noticeable consternation, when it was noticed that after “Barney Milliner” was given the keys to the “fine ants root seller”, he took us down there, to show us how he could root around in those “better economic manager” files, and only then “someone noticed” Garrett being “reprehensibly negligent, bordering on responsible for those deaths, and
because Tony Abbott is the fount of all Christian charity, before self-interest, and is leader of my Coal-ition”?
How many of these “lefties”, “defending Garrett’s culpability” ever said it was a “good, well implemented scheme”?
Or those condemning him saying that, over almost 12 years, there was never a Howard “plan” that didn’t go as hoped and they called for similar sackings then? That this sort of thing was all right then when there were 11+ years of precedent of worse and closer connections to maladministration, being laid down, and that if the coalition was returned, they wouldn’t go Right back to defending a return to that sort of behaviour?
Silly article by BK.
Long live Garrett’s insane defense, I say.
The longer it continues the more Rudd plays into Abbott’s hands.
Watch the next poll go even further south for Rudd.
well the drum dont think so
With Garretts sacking from his role, does this now mean that the Opposition has “developed real momentum and inflicted a significant psychological defeat on the Government”. Yep!
Australian politics is in a state of despair at the moment. We have probably the most inactive government, maybe a 1 term’er, in our history and we have a regurgitated Opposition. There are always a handful of honest politicians in each party but Rudd and Abbott aren’t one of them.
Not that I liked Whitlam, quite the opposite given what he did to our economy, but I’d rather see someone govern that is prepared to shake, rattle and roll rather than our current capitalist PM worth over $100M.
living overseas, it is hard to keep up with all the news, but I am glad to see that Garrett has been sacked. If I hear Rudd say one more time “I take full responsibility” I’ll puke, the guy is a career public servant!
Despite all the Coalition blunders in parliament, they have been making steady if not overwhelming gains in the polls, and that’s all that really matters. Something about the new approach is getting some amount of improved traction. Admittedly the early days of Malcolm’s leadership saw a similar trend, the question is whether or not a Utegate style event, or something else, will turn things back the other way.With Garretts sacking from his role, does this now mean that the Opposition has “developed real momentum and inflicted a significant psychological defeat on the Government”
ultimate max burn
To Surfer: Correct. Rudd and Garrett have NOT been seriously damaged by this media fiasco.
@ Napoleon
We have probably the most inactive government, maybe a 1 term’er, in our history and we have a regurgitated Opposition.
You say you live overseas — that is why you think the govt is inactive. They have done heaps — heaps more than howard in his last few years. The problem of a hostile senate means that a few high profile forms of legislation have made the news because they have been stopped.
But on the whole, more has been achieved despite the economic constraints of the GFC. Pensions, Education, infrastructure, they’ve put a stop to a lot of the rorting. Much more is in the works — but wisely in amny instances the government sought expert advice before acting … that takes time. Pragmatic yes, inactive no.
Living overseas Napoleon, Are you voting in Australia or just happy making vicarious suggestions to the Australian polity?
And can you tell me whats wrong with a public service career? Maybe I could do more good and a miner or banker?
‘as a miner…’
I notice when challenged, Mr Napolean suddenly loses interest, its to be hoped he loses interest in Australia and stays where he is.
onya David, another short albeit puerile post.
@Jenauthor - I do live overseas, West London, SW6 - Kangaroo Court as they say. IR aside because that is a given for a change of right to left governments, I do like the school curriculum and report card system introduced by the ALP. However, I do honestly struggle to think of anything else that is of a tangible nature. Maybe guiding us through the GFC was a win but then again, the ALP had every conceivable tool at their disposal and much to the envy of big brother Gordon Brown.
I am seriously racking my brains to think of something? they had a chance with the ETS but they executed their case in the most novice way possible by a government.
To provide some context, the last major party I voted for was Labor (the one PK lost) but I am very critical of this spin based government. If the ALP win the next election, I am tipping for someone to challenge Rudd before 2013.
@SBH - no real problems with public servants, just not my choice of sector and probably would not hire someone that a long background in the public service - thats my choice before you try knock me down. I also would not recommend young graduates to work in the public sector if they have ambission, especially law and finance graduates. Like alot of people in the private sector, I have had some bad experiences in dealing with public servants. The stereotypical public servant with an Arts degrees is alive and well in Australia!
spoken like a true outsider Napoleon (and that’s ‘ambition’ but I only point it out because you hate it when other posters make mistakes)