Tuesday, May 27, 2014

As noted at Catallaxy

Sinclair Davidson actually thinks Bronwyn Bishop is doing a good job as speaker. Simply astonishing, as he likes to say.  He likes how Scott Morrison handles himself too, as do many of the commenters at the site.  [Update:  see what Sinclair says himself in clarification in comments below.]   I'm always amused about how much some libertarian/conservative types like "hard men" (and hard haired women) who they think are successfully putting the boot into their political opponents.  (To be fair, we saw the same thing from Labor followers with Paul Keating; but I always disagreed with them too that the aggro was a good look.  Also - Morrison is making politics out of a secret government operation on the high seas - that is something to deplore, not celebrate.) 

Judith Sloan, in thinking about the Medicare co-payment, again gets the opportunity to express annoyance that other people (medical researchers) might get to fly business class.  (Last time it was those mooching pilots, remember?)

Update:  re Morrison and secrecy on ocean:

Immigration officials faced a grilling at a Senate estimates hearing on Monday night about unconfirmed reports an asylum seeker boat was intercepted off Christmas Island in mid-May and its passengers are in custody on the Customs Ocean Protector ship.

Customs chief executive Michael Pezzullo maintained that only an illegal foreign fishing boat had been intercepted near Christmas Island recently.

Australian Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young referred to reports Christmas Islanders saw clothing packs being taken out to the Ocean Protector.

But Mr Pezzullo refused to comment on logistics, operational matters or any legal advice about holding people in custody.

He rejected Labor senator Kim Carr's description that asylum seekers were being detained on a ''prison ship''.

''People are being held in secure circumstances and subject to operational orders,'' he said, adding they were appropriately cared for with adequate food and water.

Senator Carr asked how many people were in custody on the Ocean Protector and other vessels.
''I'm not going to discuss that,'' Mr Pezzullo said.

On Monday, Senator Hanson-Young told Fairfax Media that the Abbott government's '' obsession with secrecy means that we are hearing eye-witness reports of refugee boats from Christmas Island locals, while Customs and Immigration officials remain tight-lipped''.

''The government is refusing to answer even the most basic questions about the health and safety of people who may be locked up inside a customs vessel right now,'' Senator Hanson-Young said.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/border-protection-deny-running-prison-ship-for-asylum-seekers-20140527-38zpy.html#ixzz32s2AgYC1
The Greens are not realistic in how they would respond to the problem - yet they are still on the money when it comes to the appalling secrecy that the government is putting over this; and it is something of a scandal that there isn't a public scandal about it.

8 comments:

nottrampis said...

Davidson is correct, Bishop is doing a good job, for the ALP. They must be hoping she will be in the chair until the next election. She is gold for them!

Sinclair Davidson said...

To be clear - I'm not a fan of Mr Morrison at all. His strong man politics leaves me cold.

I just note he is performing as advertised.

nottrampis said...

really, He advertised himself as a big fan of human rights because that is why he rejected Malaysia but somehow Cambodia is okay?

He also doesn't understand even if you outsource something it is still your responsibility.

Paul Montgomery said...

The problem with characterising Bronwyn Bishop as a performer on the government side is that, as Speaker, she is not supposed to be on the government side. Impartiality, not partisanship, is the traditional role of the Speaker.

Just another aspect of the Liberals' selective conservatism.

Steve said...

Good point, monty.

The video of Pyne giving her the signal to stand and close down the applause on the budget reply speech was really disgraceful. No way will she be remembered as a good speaker, and it will be an ignominious end to her career.

Sinclair Davidson said...

m0nty - don't be such a cry-baby. After Slipper and Burke, Bronnie is simply returning fire. This notion of an independent Speaker is gone, and we're going to have to live in a world where we are rapidly adopting US political customs.

Steve said...

I thought everyone acknowledged that Slipper actually did well in the role (even allowing for his fondness for theatrical processions.) Burke rolled her eyes and looked bored and annoyed with the Coalition a lot, but as for actual rulings, I believe it was nothing like the record that Bishop has displayed.

nottrampis said...

I agree Steve, Sinclair is taking Katesy pills if he thought Slipper and Burke were poor speakers. I never thought anyone would approach Leaping Leo Macleay as a really poor speaker but Bishop has.

given she is stupid and unattractive she doesn't have a lot going for her.

She is gold for the ALP