Abbott’s biffage par for the course in student pollie sandpit
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If Tony Abbott was asked this year to make a list of roadblocks in his path to the Lodge, it’s safe to say the name Barbara Ramjan wouldn’t have been among them.
But the Opposition Leader should never underestimate the ability of student politics’ acid reflux to keep repeating well after the flush of youth subsides.
The trigger? David Marr finally got Ramjan on the record in his Quarterly Essay to allege a peeved Abbott had twice punched a wall inches from her head in frustration at his 1977 Sydney Uni SRC election loss. This week, 1976 president David Patch also weighed in to add that a “shaken, scared and angry” Ramjan had regaled him with the details shortly afterwards.
And overnight, another unnamed witness attested to the biffage, slamming Abbott’s DLP “goon squad” for their roughhouse tactics. Abbott admits only one allegation — that he had referred to Ramjan, the SRC’s first woman president, as “chairthing” rather than her preferred “chairperson”.
But for those versed in the wild machinations of campus brawling, Abbott’s adolescent rampage is par for the course each September and October when the reluctant general student population shuffles to the ballot box.
Patch — who would later run against Malcolm Turnbull in Wentworth in 2004 — has also recalled an incident in which his earlier bete noire, then aligned with fringe Australia Party Club, “palmed” him during that year’s feisty election debate.
One of Abbott’s biggest beefs was the amount of student money being channelled to the Australian Union of Students (AUS) to run proxy campaigns on behalf of the PLO and against capitalism — issues that Tony reckoned was outside the acceptable orbit of student concern. Five years later, Julia Gillard was elected national education vice-president of the then-AUS (now NUS) from Adelaide Uni but moved to Melbourne Uni to better smooth a path to the ultimate prize — that body’s president, a position to which she was duly elected.
Then, as now, the main game for Tory apparatchiks was to “starve the beast” by bankrupting the union in the style pioneered by Republican operatives Jack Abramoff and Oliver North in the early 1980s. After Paris ‘68, French theorist Alain Touraine had identified students as the new working class and Abbott and co took the threat seriously indeed. John Howard’s Voluntary Student Unionism Bill — passed 28 years later in 2005 and rescinded with conditions last year by Labor — was the culmination of that effort.
(Universities continue to pay $5.30 per full-time student to the NUS but most end up stumping up much less — about $100,000 in the case of Melbourne Uni this year against an invoiced amount of $190,000).
There is some evidence the vibrancy of yesteryear is receding from view. The presence of Trotskyite fringe group Socialist Alternative had dimmed at most campuses (despite the recent blow up at La Trobe University featuring — amazingly — one “student” who was, 10 years ago, aged 25). The passing of last year’s Student Services and Amenities Bill — despite providing a funds injection to unions (via the university) of $263 per student — specifically prohibits spending on “political activities”.
Still, around election time, controversy continues to fester.
The recent flagrant abuses at the University of Queensland — for years the country’s sole outpost of full-spectrum Liberal control — effectively stopped the broad Left from getting on the ballot paper. Crikey understands that spat has some way to run and is likely to end up in the courts, especially if a mysterious batch of T-shirt invoices can be located.
The deregistration rule changes are a classic tactic. At Melbourne University Student Union in 2002, left-wing activists changed their names by deed poll to stay on the ballot after Labor Right forces altered the regs to state that only groups affiliated to the student union could run in elections. The clubs had been secretly disaffiliated.
Crikey recalls a severe arm injury meted out to one Labor Left activist the following year as the struggle for control ratcheted up — with the aftermath recorded in the still-popular State of the Union DVD.
At 2010 at Monash University, campus Liberals alleged the Left secretly registered party names such as, er, “Liberal” to stymie democracy.
Some of those loopholes are starting to be closed. At Melbourne Uni, the ability of a ruling junta to alter rules to suit their own ends has been mitigated by the requirement that changes to the constitution be ticked off by an independent election tribunal controlled by eminences grise from the university and the law faculty. Crucially, the tribunal appoints an independent returning officer, preventing partisan operators from upholding dubious election-week grievances.
And the messy groupings are starting to re-arrange themselves along more disciplined factional lines. In Victoria, Young Labor — that includes a substantial overlap with campuses — is a direct mirror of the broader party serving the same state and federal MP deities, making the task of hiring advisers and electorate office staffers much easier. The Labor Left is the default ballot box choice for most vaguely progressive students, especially when preferences can be harvested from the grassroots left, the remnants of the Trots, and international students.
But the underhanded tactics haven’t prevented the student politics sandpit acting as a crucial talent funnel for all major factions associated with the major parties. As Crikey’s list of former student politicians in federal Parliament shows, a substantial minority of former campus brawlers end up ensconced on Capital Hill.
Across the country, Tony’s antagonists remain, albeit in a much tighter straitjacket.
I was at Sydney Uni in those days and I recall Abbott and his clique around the Merewhether Building, specifically the Economics Faculty Cafe. It was a no go area for women, gays, any minority racial group or anybody different from a ‘WAS’ background. After those days I have always considered Abbott a racist, misogynist and homophobic thug. There always seemed to be this threat of violence when he was around, not fit to be in public life in my opinion.
Libs, find a new leader. This one’s tarnished.
During and before the time in question I was a bit of a student politician myself - for nigh on a decade.
I never saw nor expected to see such outrageous acts as are now being discussed in relation to student elections.
Aggressive words? Certainly.
Anger? Certainly.
Goon squads and fistfights? Never.
That kind of behaviour was not then and is not now acceptable from elected representatives at any level in society, whether campus, federal or in between.
There was a wonderful bit of entertainment this morning on ABC New Radio of Sheridan completely losing it over the David Marr essay on Abbott; below is the link and a short extract (my transcription as accurate as I could make it out.)
He was ranting over the attempted interjection of the interviewer to present a balanced view of the (alleged) punch incident.
Greg Sheridan on ABC News Radio this morning (September 14 2012)
I thought Abbott only throw punches @ women.
The gall of Sheridan? One of the ugly mouthpieces of the Murdoch rags? I wish someone would delve deeper into Abbott’s behaviour while he was at that illustrious catholic part of that University? Someone do some digging! The same one where in recent times, a new generation of thugs and bullies terrorised a young woman for not drinking alcohol, and nearly killed her! She WAS allergic! The parents and old boys of some of these bullies were outraged - not by what they’d done, but the fact that the whole year was suspended! That’s the reality of what’s behind the Abbott behaviour/mentality!
Like all bullies and thugs, he’s a coward. He’s pretty good at throwing mud and destroying other people (Pauline Hanson campaign springs to mind. I’m not a fan of hers, but that was the ‘real Abbott’? he’s just a bloody coward!
If he’s like that in public, imagine living with him! He’s a misogynist and a bully! Plain and simple! Even the trolls won’t defend this - but then?????Never say never!
michael r james
I listened to the Sheridan rant after it chasing down on the ABC site so thanks for the heads up Michael . Sheridan says it didn,t happen but wasn,t present at the alleged event . Well that may be his view and fair enough but to then go on and accuse the ABC of anti catholic bias is a troppo area . To further damage his cred he says no other politician would cop this bagging but Abbott . Has Sheridan been on retreat for the last decade ? To think a journo from the Australian bleating about smear and innuendo ? Well that takes the cake doesn,t it , you have to smile at the irony of it .
Bert - “After those days I have always considered Abbott a racist, misogynist and homophobic thug. There always seemed to be this threat of violence when he was around, not fit to be in public life in my opinion.”
I was also at Sydney Uni at the time and couldn’t agree more. He’s trouble…
A couple of things spring to mind.
Perhaps Abbotts’ antipathy towards Gillard is as a consequence of her NUS success ( and by default his failure)
Secondly Bankrupting things…Seems likely that is true given his bankruot morals & that he would bankrupt the nation if he got power
Oh and re. Sheridan’s dummy spit, it seems he’s p*ssed off that at long last the NCC-DLP-Liberal party progression is being examined. It’s not just Abbott - there’s right-wing Catholics all over the top of the Coalition.
Well people,
My opinion is that this man that you loathe will be prime minister of Australia next year.
Why is that? Oh, that’s right. Electors are too dumb to have an informed view.
DH, No anchor ever propels the boat.
By the time this is over, the true nature of the leader of the Opposition will be firmly and publicly on display. Whether or not the public elect him and his party is a long way off.
As to whether or not electors are too dumb to have an informed view… on current polls, as the truth emerges the electors are indeed developing an informed view.
Let’s not wait till next year’s election to judge this one. The next Newspoll should indicate what that view might be.
*Trotskyist
@SAM - Are you being a smart arse or only joking! Funny how, when conservatives have to answer questions they resort to being abusive. Your vocabulary requires some urgent attention! If you’re joking, it’s not really funny!
The awful look Abbott gets on his face JUST when he’s challenged is enough for me! I’ve often thought that I wouldn’t like to live with him - he can’t control his juvenile responses? If looks could kill, there’d be a few people who’d have been ‘lopped’ off the twig by now! One of them would be Tony Jones from Lateline! I still have that interview on tape somewhere - most revealing! Sometimes, when he’s really angry about being called to account, he just stared at the interviewer - and then just leaves? Amazing!
Like you JOHN, I’m still putting my faith in the people waking up? Before it’s too late I hope!
DH
Your probably right about the next PM if the polls remain bad for Labor . Lets not forget Bush got elected a second time so anything is possible in a democracy . As for the electorate being too dumb well thats way too harsh an assessment . How many of the populace actually get interested in politics or policy ? Uninformed or just not interested may be more to the point . In any case the mainstream media has very little regarding information but a lot of ” gotcha ” moments and what is so and so really saying . Gratten has become one of the pack and is now better suited to a gossip mag . Uninformed ? Well look at the press/media and its a no brainer as to why .
Sectarian bias? Really? I thought they were focussing on Abbott’s alleged actions as an individual and not on the church or his membership thereof.
Actually LIZ45, the Trots of old are as likely to be found with the Libs- Peter Phelps and Christopher Pearson spring to mind.
Most people can’t remember incidents 5 years ago, let alone 35, and the memory fades as we get older.
I’m sure that Ramjan honestly believes that her version of the event is the truth, but i’m sure Abbott does as well. So who to believe? Both? Neither? Still no reliable independent evidence. Even David Patch is relying on 35 year old heresay to corroborate Ramjan’s tale.
I still don’t believe that Labor can tag Abbott with this one. It’s not like the Latham “handshake”.
Peter Phelps? the only person of that name I know of is the actor? The brother of Dr Kerryn Phelps? I think he supported the Greens at one time, but can’t be certain!
For something really sickening. Prior to 5pm Jo Hilldenbrante? of the Murdoch rags was on my local ABC radio? (why do we have to put up with him? Why not someone from the SMH or bring back Bernard???) raving on for a full 5 minutes without breath with all the excuses/explanations/ smoothing over blah blah of what Abbott said/did and his response. Just pathetic! Nearly made me puke!
The bloke who made the assertion has come out swinging (so to speak?) saying that he has no connection to anyone in the ALP etc, and that this did really happen? I believed it straight off for reasons I’ve already stated - he’s a bad tempered, bad mouthed misogynist, who walks like a huge champ but without the appeal, or I suspect the intelligence! The idea of him representing us overseas is embarrassing to say the least! Yuk!
There’s a long time between now and then??(if you know what I mean?). I’m pretty disgusted with Labor too as I’ve said before, but there has been a lot of good things done by this Labor Govt - asylum seekers isn’t one of them, sadly! What happens when Nauru and Manus Island are full? Imagine the mossies at the end of Garbage Dump Lane! Ross River Fever just waiting for its chance! Lyon’s disease anyone? People whose immune system is stuffed due to stress etc? Ahem! You read it here first folks!
Elsewhere there’s some strong defence running for The Hon. Mr Abbott because “it was a long time ago”, or “Paul Keating used swear words”, or “Mark Latham beat up a cabbie”, or “Kevin Rudd was nasty to a steward on a plane”, and even “its the ultimate form of gender equality to treat women with disrespect and threaten them with physical violence”. It is odd and disappointing that people are so ready to accept and justify as normal something that would usually be viewed with disdain in our society, especially seeing as The Hon. Mr Abbott has so far denied it even happened.
Waste of Time
Well first off Abbott said he couldn,t recall the event and that it would be out of character . The next day he said it didn,t happen which was similar to saying twice in an interview that he had not read a report and next day saying he had . The Hon. you specifically placed in your post is meaningless as it is given to all politicians in the lower house regardless of merit . Colonel Tom Parker was not a colonel in any army and in fact an illegal immigrant and Abbott has seldom displayed actions that could be said to be honourable , quite the opposite .
If Abbott can say the PM has questions to answer but then find himself incapable of formulating what that question should be , should he be absolved from answering a direct question ? Good for the goose good for the gander . The PM stood up to the press for nearly an hour yet Abbott consistently turns tail after a few uncomfortable questions . He has done it regularly over the last couple of years . When in an interview situation where that tactic is unavailable he unravels which no doubt is the reason he so seldom does them .
The Sheridan meltdown was a joy to hear, his bizarre loinking of anti catholicism & wicked evil ABC was weird enough but his ad hominem re Marr was surely actionable?
Hey Geo. Sorry to upset you. The point I was trying to make was that the cheer squad for The Hon. Mr Abbott was already out justifying and normalising this abhorrent, violent behaviour, even though the man himself is denying it. I don’t care how long ago the alleged incident was, or the circumstances, pretending to hit women is not cool. Seriously what type of person does that, and what type of person seeks to justify, rather than condemn it?
Abbott’s behaviour towards women is to ignore them or to threaten them. It is a character flaw as the evidence of that behaviour is now on the public record through the book and follow up interviews.
His problem is that it is not in the past just as Mark Latham’s wasn’t in the past when he was the Leader of the Opposition. He showed his nature in his handshake with Mr Howard and gave Mr Howard victory.
Women were already down on Abbott but women are now examining him closely and observe an ugly nature often experienced first hand. Bullying is not that hard to recognise when the body language says it all.
There is a huge difference between ugly student politics and the violent ugly personal politics being played out in it.
Waste of Time
Not a problem and not upset . I must admit I missed what you were trying to convey . So its me who should apologise if any are required .
Sheridan is on next Monday’s Q&A panel so, if we’re lucky, he may reprise his rant.
When Abbott claimed the wall-punching incident never happened he failed to put it in writing. And we know what that means.
@ZUT ALORS - Indeed! And the point is well made by WASTE OF TIME. Remember the hoo ha when Rudd was sprung for being in a strip joint? You’d have thought that he’d ‘done it’ in public with half a dozen different women the way the media carried on! This is in stark contrast I’d suggest! Kevin Rudd didn’t DO anything! And it’s legal if not inadvisable to visit such places? But (allegedly) threatening/menacing/intimidating behaviour that could make a person fear for their safety is a criminal act - at least under current laws, perhaps not back in that time! And lying about it and looking as guilty as hell isn’t a good look! Walking away with a face like a thundercloud doesn’t look good either.
As Tania Pl; said, Julia Gillard stood for an hour answering all questions thrown at her and did it very well indeed! Abbott and his mob are trying to justify, deny, ridicule the whistleblower and make out the woman is lying? Very edifying indeed!
Sheridan? Another good little catholic boy! Gee, they’re easy to pick aren’t they? Barnaby Joyce, behaving like an overgrown school boy; Hockey with his nasty little mouth?Andrews, (allegedly) staying quiet over the lies told about Dr Haneef - the list goes on! Brandis? Pyne?
Remember the ex campaign director for Howard a couple of weeks ago called Leigh Sales a cow? They can’t help themselves can they? I hope there’s more accusations of this type that come to light - and I’m sure that with a bloke like Abbott, this wouldn’t have been an isolated case? He’s done it recently also, and in public? Nicola Roxon at the National Press Club for a start! He’s a nasty, petty, revolting little man, who doesn’t deserve to be a leader of a mob of gulahs let alone a country - any country! Great example to his daughters! Perhaps they think this is how life is? Fancy living with him! my god!
Where are the trolls on this one? Lost their collective tongues? Hey SB, where are you? Not going to defend your ‘esteemed leader’? I wonder how long it’ll take for him to be dumped? If they don’t dump him, it’ll say a lot to women all over the country! This is the type of behaviour that is sanctioned by the Liberal Party! Even Clive Palmer is going to re think his life long membership? Interesting times indeed!
It may well be the case that this “incident” is as “irrelevant” as Gillard’s?
It’s just that a couple of short weeks ago “Murdoch’s trolls” (with their resources for promoting/ignoring/shouting down publicity, good or bad) were leading a “foresnic audit” gouging and lifting the scab on Gillard’s past - on the grounds of relevance “that it went to her character”?
God forbid anyone should subject a conservative leader to the same sort of criteria - especially when it came to Limited News from their bottomless pit of self-interest and PR promotion?
………. It’s just that Abbott continues to exhibit that sort of “inappropriate behaviour” that so embarrassed him then? How old is “ancient history” - especially with relevance as to how we’re going to predict what an individual is likely to do “next week”?
And if they really want to compare “lies” ……..?
I wish Q&A might just occasionally have the odd questions put to the LNP.
The most obvious I have is why they are worth voting in when the Greens control the Senate.
Why elect a hamstrung parliament?
What that person may have committed is apprehended assault and the victim could have set up a civil case if there had been any direct witnesses.
But, perhaps only one side of student politics, at that time, were into such legal solutions.
The speculation may be that “that person”, part of a roving gang, had witnesses who might have been prepared to “cover” for him, even on the witness stand, had they been subpoenaed to appear.
On the balance of probablities the voting public may have already found that person guilty.
The roving gang may have judged that a cover up was very politic.
Hey Liz,
By “troll” I presume you mean is as an abusive term directed at people who hold alternative political views to you.
Though that’s not quite what the term technically means, the reason there’s not much activity from “trolls” down here in the Crikey Crypt is obvious. We’ve had days and days of negative stories and comments about Tony Abbott in Crikey. There were two in Friday’s edition alone. What is there left to say about it? The only thing I can comment on is the very interesting fear and loathing felt towards the Liberals in general and Tony in particular. There’s something compulsive about it that I don’t quite get but will reflect on.
And despite Crikey’s campaign , Tony will still Australia’s prime minister late next year.
DH
” We’ve had days and days of negative stories and comments about Tony Abbott in Crikey. There were two in Friday’s edition alone. What is there left to say about it? “
Well if the story was about Craig Thomson you would have numerous posts from the usual suspects . In fact quite often they throw in Thomson when the article has no mention of the man . A man despite the workings of various police forces and Brandis etc has yet to be charged with anything .
Loathing for a loathsome man shouldn,t be hard to understand . Confusion over Sheridans weird rant I could understand because it was very strange from a person who usually projects a more staid persona . It was a performance is my take but too hammy and way overboard .
Is it that hard to be able to directly reply to a comment on this site? The Drum can do it.
hey Chad, bit clockwork here spesh. on w/ends…… google TPP fer some fun and relaxation …….. luck
If the saying that “where there is smoke there is fire”has any credibility these days then I would reckon that Abbott should thank his old best mate and recent dining partner Greg Sheridan for a bad case of smoke inhalation.Sheridans intervention into the debate was remarkable for its hysteria.His view that an attack on Abbott was an attack on the Catholic church says a lot for his own zealotry.As a reader who held Sheridans scribblings on politics and defence in some regard I was absolutely surprised at his stupid emotional response and will view his future opinions with less enthusiasm.
@DAVID HAND - The trolls are people like SB who just put in nasty comments, statements without fact and who enjoy causing the discussion to go in a different direction. I’m the first one to admit that I often fall for her/their tactics. I doubt whether she or others have ever done any independent research, rather just mouth the bs put out by the spin merchants. Whenever she’s challenged, she just disappears into the ‘atmosphere’ until next outburst!
The behaviour of Tony Abbott is particularly galling, because he publicly claims allegiance to being a catholic (as opposed to being and acting like a christian - I must add?) but using his religious beliefs to put forward that agenda as a Minister (in the past, Minister for Health in the Howard Govt for instance, who tried to prevent RU846 onto the appropriate medical aspect that would make it available as required?). This was an abuse of his position, and only reinforced the opinion of many, particularly women, that given more power, women would take the brunt of it!
If he’d admitted to what he was accused of, but made the point, that we all do or have done things as young people that we abhor now, it would’ve been OK, but he changed his position and looked very shifty doing it? One has to ask why? I believe him to be a lying misogynist, who’ll do anything for power! By his own words, he has condemned himself! He looked so shifty; and several people, including the woman concerned have asserted to the truth of the accusation. I’ve seen the very nasty side of him, and it gave me a shudder each time! A nasty little man not to upset I would say!
If Abbott can’t stand the heat, he should leave the kitchen. He’s very competent at slinging mud at others, but like all bullies, can’t take it! Typical! I haven’t known of one abusive bloke who wasn’t a coward, and I include my ex husband in that mix! A liar, an abuser and a sociopath without any remorse whatsoever, who has threatened me if I expose his abuse - only a few short years ago - 20 yrs after I left the marriage? Amazing arrogance isn’t it?
I’m very pleased not to have ever lived with Tony Abbott!
Sheridan’s outburst is similar to that of Santamaria in the past. I’m old enough to remember his contributions, plus his manner of achieving and staying powerful. Sheridan didn’t do Abbott or himself any favours. On one time he was on Q&A someone asserted what Bush had stated while president, i think, about ‘doing god’s work’ or words to that effect, and Sheridan was quite adamant with his claims that this was not so. I’ve seen the footage and read about it from a variety of sources, and he certainly did say it. that he thinks George W was one of the US’s best presidents says a lot about his perceptions.
These misogynists, like Howard’s once right hand man a couple of weeks ago, together with Abbott’s mate Allan Jones and others don’t do a lot for his ‘image’? I just heard an interview with Clover Moore on Radio National, and grinned to myself when it was stated that she received 52% of the vote for Mayor? Obviously, 52% of voters didn’t agree with Jones, that ‘women were ruining the joint’? Will this shut him up? I doubt it! Another ‘ugly’ little man with a mouth to match!
Another disingenuous person asserted that Julia Gillard didn’t ‘hold a press conference’ to answer accusations about her past life as a lawyer. The fact is, that yes, the media conference was a joint one, but she must’ve determined prior to that that she’d cop all comers; and she DID stand there for an hour or more answering questions off the cuff and in quite a strong manner - Abbott on the other hand, just walks away when the question is not to his liking! Hardly PM behaviour!
The behaviour of 4 conservative premiers haven’t done a lot for the Liberal Party? A ‘blessing’ I’d suggest! This just might make the difference! If it doesn’t I fear for all those programs, policies etc that assist those vulnerable people in our community - domestic violence being one of them! I’ve never seen Abbott make a speech on Nov 25 let alone wear a white ribbon? It would be interesting for a journalist to ask him questions on this issue - but I’m not holding my breath. The fact that it ‘costs’ $13 billion a year Australia wide provides just one reason why he should be scrutinized, but????? Unlike Malcolm Turnbull, who as leader made a speech in the Parliament re these horrific crimes? Probably another reason why they ‘stabbed him in the back’ ?
If a week is a long time in politics, let’s see what a year holds?
@SCOTT - I can recall very vividly the event when my ex husband jerked my left foot to his right until I screamed in pain, 48 years ago? I’m now walking around in pain from this “old trauma” and probably have surgery to look forward to - 48 yrs of pain on and off, but now it’s here all the time! ? I was nursing his new baby at the time, lying on a bed. He screamed in fright as my mouth was next to his ear? Another time he ‘rabbit chopped’ me while I was doing the same thing? Why? Perhaps childish affront at the time I spent on two babies under 1 year? Very adult response? Oh yes, I remember these things, and the many others over 20 years!
People who’ve suffered violence usually have ‘better’ memories than the perpetrators? Funny that? I wonder why?Ask people who’ve suffered from wars, torture, kidnappings etc? Their memories would be quite vivid I suspect?
Aghast, Sheridan’s slanted foreign affairs articles have been embarrassing and hurting us in Asia for far too long.
Does anyone think that all those Colombo Scheme students from yesteryear are not aware of Sheridan and Abbotts’ ugly foreign dictated foreign policies?
Only ugly religious supremacists would think they could hide their prejudices from our intelligent neighbours.
Sheridan is a national shame. Just like his best friend.
Three articles in the Oz backing Abbott , Kelly , Shanahan and Sheridan . I didn’t,t read them as not a subscriber and never would be in its present form . For a fluff story as claimed by some that’s a remarkable response by the Oz using senior journos although Ms Shanahan may be the exception . I,m sure they were equally magnanimous towards the PM , not ,despite the Oz having to publicly apologize again . Is Milne still in journalism ? Hardly a squeak about Lewis and Ashby , Pyne and Brough yet three articles regarding a so called non event . Why would anyone pay for that ?
@GEOMAC62 - Who’d bother reading anything in the Oz? Wouldn’t use it to wrap the garbage? I’m not surprised by this. They’re beneath contempt, all of them. I think there’s more stories about Abbott? Time will tell? Maybe it will depend on who’s brave enough to come forward? I wish journalists would do more ‘digging’? They would if it was a Labor person involved. Abbott had his own ‘dirt unity? Remember Pauline Hanson, and the fact that Abbott would never reveal who contributed financially! Perhaps that’s a good place to start - and work backwards from there! Imagine if JG had done this to another politician?
I meant ‘dirt unit’? Not unity! Typo
It’s intersting to note that studies around America, the UK and Australia already point to the fact that a very large section of those who proudly hate gays are actually self-hating gays themselves… interesting thoughts for Mr Abbott…. A 50-something year old man who parades himself around in speedos?!?!?! hmmm interesting….my opinion only, of course
Liz, our near neighbours would read the OZ trying to get ahandle on who the hell they have for neighbours. Sheridan and crew should be sued for misrepresentation, as does their disproportionate presence in the various parliaments.
To an impartial overseas observer it must look like a sectarian coup by the same crew that gave the southern hemisphere the “Banana Republic”.
Abbott lying again. Ho hum. It’s so par for the course with Tony isn’t it? He remembers “Chairthing” but doesn’t recall the events that led to it.
Please, let us not give him the PM’s position. Is a latent Reagan/Bush mimic if we do.
So Tony Abbott behaved as a typical student politician when he was in the thick of uni political brouhaha? Thuggery! Vilification! Mortification! What’s new? If it wasn’t for the hothouse atmosphere of student politics we wouldn’t have enjoyed the privilege of witnessing years and years of less than masterful feats from many of our university educated reps. Sigh! Hmm! I’d really love a tradie to put his hand up for pre-selection next time in my seat. I don’t care what party he aligns with, as long as he hasn’t been ground through the political mill at uni, doesn’t have a mega sense of entitlement and has the ability to knock on the door of a stranger and ask them how the are really are! I know…I’m dreammmin!!!
Abbott’s personal rating is 30%, only 5% above Downer’s when he got the chop.
There’s no way he’ll lead the LNP into next election.
Labor draws even on the 2pp split and Gillard is widening the gap as the preferred PM! I have no issue with Labor calling the Libs to account on biffo Abbott, which is all he’s good for in public life. Maybe, people are finally beginning to wake up to this guy.
Abbott “excels” at vitriolic, hostile, take-no-prisoners adversarial politics …… the sort promoted by much of our free-market conservative tabloid media, looking for headlines to sell copy and thus ad space.
& so the foundation of li-es Phoney Habit has built his house of cards on begins to tumble, even the public witnessing Jack the Ripper in the form of Campbell Newman performing the ole death by many cuts while still trying to have the public brainwashed by the Murdorc & associated rags can’t save the S.S Abbott.
We all await the the next move by the fiberal puppet masters as they pull their joker out of the pack in the form of Talcum Churnbull to uphold their beloved principles of the free marketeers.
BTW did anyone watch “Surviving Progress” last night, the free marketeers marshalled by their oligarch masters are doing a grand job to this planet earth we call home.
@MELODY - When it’s considered, that in most States and Territories the crime of rape in marriage didn’t exist. The sexist attitudes that I recall of the 60’s didn’t even look like being addressed in that time, and it wasn’t until the 70’s (probably Gough’s influence/Lionel Murphy/Jim Cairns etc) that some were just commencing. Women who were victims of DV were treated as chattels of their husbands; a boys club was the attitude of the police; women in the Commonwealth public service had just won not having to resign the day they got married. You had to live in those times to understand just how oppressive they were. Today, life is markedly improved, but of course there’s still work to do.
People like Abbott didn’t have a lot to fear. Judges were critical of female rape victims from the bench? Questions about her attire; why she was out late at night; alcohol etc. It’s often amazing to think just how awful life was for women back then. All Laws were made by men for men - women and kids didn’t get a look in. No talk of abuse in marriage, and also no talk of child sexual abuse? Just over 30 years ago?
Girls were denied doing certain subjects in school, and I can still remember when the first female students commenced engineering courses etc; the first female pilot etc. A female doctor was almost a non event. Women were mostly employed in the ‘help’ industries - teachers, nurses, secretaries, public servants doing clerical work etc? Interesting to think of that today.
Female teachers in NSW weren’t paid the same as their male counterparts, even if they went through college together and started at the same school on the same day. Women and single men couldn’t delegate their person/people of choice to inherit their super - only married men could?
Places like Universities etc were the domain of men. People like Abbott wouldn’t have been a rare occurrence, but he was given extra oxygen due to the misogynist influence of the catholic church. I can recall quite vividly while a young girl to womanhood feeling that I had no real place in the world except as wife and mother. Sometimes it’s too easy today to criticize women of that time for not speaking out or taking action - there was nowhere to go and nobody to complain to! They didn’t exist!
Abbott could’ve explained himself into a better position if he mentioned the times; if he took responsibility for actions that he NOW believes to be reprehensible behaviour. What is really noticeable about his response,is the obvious admission re the attitudes of the times, and his accepting how wrong those attitudes were and still are! He didn’t! I’ve never heard him speak out against derogatory attitudes to women and girls, and most importantly, he has nothing to say about the debate in at least two states at the moment re child sexual abuse and the catholic church, and the demand for a Royal Commission. Having said that, he’s not the only one - on both sides of politics I hasten to add!
I would be ashamed if my now adult sons had behaved like he did, but more importantly, I’d be really disgusted if, as an aspiring PM they didn’t feel the need to forcibly state their abhorrence for this type of behaviour! That’s what is disturbing about Abbott! And, he’s withdrawn himself from any in depth interviews or press conferences? His minders know, that he’s just hopeless at this sort of ‘leadership’ activity!
If anyone else has heard him speak most forcibly against this type of behaviour, then I stand corrected. As far as I know, he never has. He’s condemned himself! He’s a bully, and all bullies are cowards! It goes with the territory!
Just yesterday in Queensland at QUT a Young LNP campaigner punched a young woman, who was the campaign manager of the left opposition, in the back of the head giving her a concussion. As the other Young LNP campaigners denied it had happened and only eight witnesses backed her story, the thug was not arrested. Today Young LNP people complained to police about some Trotskyists handing out leaflets and they were immediately arrested and charged with resisting arrest etc. I fear Queensland is headed back to an ugly past. In another incident several years ago when some Young LNP people were charged with assault of another girl during campaign week with video evidence they were not convicted because they just hire a QC and that’s the end of it. They engage in thuggish behaviour which is always rewarded.