Events have suddenly turned against Brendan Nelson.
Nelson was riding high – well, much higher than he had been – on petrol and Belinda Neal. His team was performing effectively in Parliament. Nelson had never got a particularly easy go from the press gallery but, even putting aside some outright cheerleading from News Ltd, he was being treated with a bit more respect, even if his populism was sneered at.
Tuesday’s Newspoll messed that right up, and the tone of the coverage coming out of the Press Gallery is changing. And Nelson’s party room is leaking against him. Phil Coorey’s article on a possible revolt over the Coalition’s delay to the same-sex discrimination reform package focussed on Senator Sue Boyce.
Crikey understands that Boyce, the progressive ex-journalist and businesswoman who replaced Santo Santoro last year, was not the source of the article. Wilson Tuckey attacked Boyce in the party-room over her concerns about the delay, calling her a “bully” for considering crossing the floor. Ironic from Ironbar.
Moreover, the Coalition’s tactic in delaying or blocking bills has started to turn against it, with David Uren in The Oz picking up the economic vandalism theme the Government has been repeatedly hammering. John Faulkner’s office has also ensured that everyone is aware of the Coalition’s outrageous decision to refer the Government political donations reform to a committee that won’t report until 30 June 2009 (yes, that’s not a misprint). Any number of arguments can be mounted about blocking various tax measures, but the decision to block the Faulkner bill looks plainly self-interested.
Its tactics in Parliament this week haven’t been much better. After rattling the Government in the previous session two weeks ago, the Opposition started solidly on Monday – Belinda Neal was too rich a topic for it to be otherwise – but on Tuesday and yesterday they were all over the place, with no consistent theme, no clear plan of attack and no attempt to target weaker ministers. Any reference to something faintly connected with Belinda Neal can still induce operatic howls of laughter from the Coalition ranks, but Kevin Rudd has a looked a lot more relaxed as he goes through his paperwork by the Dispatch Box.
And while the tactic of getting Coalition backbenchers to ask questions might be enjoyed by the MPs themselves, who get a few seconds in the spotlight, it deprives the Opposition’s frontbench of exposure and experience, which most of them sorely need.
Until now, the Opposition’s performance in Parliament has been one of its few strong points. Unless they refine their tactics, or find something else on Belinda Neal, even that is going to start to look weak.
Paul Neville’s affection for Bundaberg Rum got a run in Question Time yesterday. I once had the pleasure (insert irony indicator here) of attending a meeting between Neville and a senior Minister of the previous Government. “In my electorate,” intoned Neville stolidly , “there’s a famous boatrace called the Bundy Thunder…” “Better than the Bundy Chunder,” quipped the Minister. Perhaps.
I smell the odour of the Minchin trail in the Senate. This blocking of budget legislation will be his dorky idea of hindering the Government for no other reason than to obstruct, be a pain in the backside and for what? At the end of the day what will it acheive? It will not improve the Coalition standing with the majority of the electorate, time and again there petty, cheap shots have been given the heave ho in resulting polls. Of course as Minchin is running the Libs from behind the scenes, so as he doesn’t have to take the flak, he really is setting Nelson up for the mother of all falls. Perhaps he has decided Ms Bishop is his best bet to take over, what a shambles.
Bernard you are a little too generous I think in your praise of the Coalitions performance in the House at Question time. Frankly I really dont see a decent performer at all. And the prize for the most improved Minister goes to….Swanee!!!! The guy is starting to love it, cant keep him away from the despatch box. On ya Wayne, now giving as good as he gets
People, people, people. Let’s just calm down a bit, shall we? Polls, especially polls years out from the next election, really don’t mean much. History tells us they mean even less in the first term of a government, as one-term governments are a rare phenomenon as far as Australian Federal politics is concerned. Whether Nelson is polling 2%, 20% or 200% doesn’t mean much as far as the next twelve months is concerned, and that’s a hell of a long time in politics. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – the Libs best opportunity is to spend this term re-engaging with their base and with Australians who might give them a vote. They need to work out what they stand for, and how they’re going to distinguish themselves from the later days (or perhaps all) of Howard’s Prime-Ministership (and I write this knowing that Tony Papafils and John James will vocally disagree). They need to limit losses at the next election, but they shouldn’t really expect to get close or win unless circumstances really change between now and then. They need to have a leader who can bring the party together and come up with a clear message about what the party stands for. Next term, they need to identify the team which will look like an alternative government, but there’s no point trying too hard to do this now. Of course, they won’t do any of this, which suits me fine because I’m a Labor voter. They’ll continue to be poll-driven, reactive and shallow. And I’ll enjoy saying I told them so when Labor wins a third term, either under Rudd or Gillard.
Dave, why spoil the fun?. The board was on a roll and you came along and got all paternalistic.
The Liberal party does not need to “reconnect” . They need to organise and prepare to engage Rudd and Labor. They could win the next election. They were not a bad government (please no predictable Howardhater responses). Rudd may have to face a credibility gap between what he promised last November and what he can and will deliver. That can and should be exploited. Petrol and groceries do not seem to be responding to the RuddWatch strategy. Solar power has received an unexpected bodyblow and taxes are on the up. Rudd’s foreign policy is a questionable and the whales are still being harpooned. The Liberals have got some serious talent but you would be forgiven for doubting that since they found themselves in opposition
Oh. Doc Nelson. I thought you meant Doc Neeson. Bugger.
surely the government has the right to change the a senate committee is to report particularly as it will be a new senate