I’m unaware of those operational details, Kerry.
… as to the precise sequence of events, I cannot recall each step in that sequence of events. I honestly cannot.
… the precise sequence of events concerning the handling of this particular vessel I cannot recall in absolute detail—they were complex diplomatic negotiations.
That would be done through the normal agency of the Australian government—the customs and border protection arrangements of the government. That is where the command and control lies. I imagine it is an operational matter.
— Kevin Rudd last night on the 7.30 Report.
It’s wonderful that our workaholic Prime Minister has finally relaxed enough to stop sweating the small stuff. Remember the Kevin Rudd of 2008, who couldn’t let anything happen in the entire Government without personally vetting it first?
Now he appears content to leave the operational details of a critical issue like the handling of the Oceanic Viking to other parties. He was repeatedly asked last week in Parliament about such matters and, almost with a shrug of his shoulders, declared he couldn’t quite recall. And judging by his effort with an inevitably semi-manic Kerry O’Brien last night, his recollection hasn’t improved in the intervening days.
Or not, as the case may be. Does anyone seriously believe Australia’s most controlling Prime Minister and his office are not fully across exactly what’s going on? But the Prime Minister has developed a too-cute-by-half strategy of professing ignorance about the handling of events in Indonesia.
It’s partly understandable given it is only the ABC and The Australian which are, for their own ideological reasons, fascinated by such details which, even in the broader context of the Government’s policy on asylum seekers, are of relatively minor importance.
However, it reflects his ongoing struggle to find a communications strategy that will enable him to get control of the issue again, although Tony Abbott appears eager to assist him by saying, more or less, that Rudd now has blood on his hands, once again demonstrating that no matter how obvious the benefits of keeping attention focused on the Government, the Coalition can be relied on demand the spotlight be swung back to them. Perhaps now that he has finally copped a knock in the polls — although today’s Newspoll is clearly a rogue result, especially compared to other polls — he might re-evaluate what he’s trying to say.
Malcolm Turnbull had a difficult interview yesterday as well. If Kerry O’Brien suffers from a tendency to ask a question, pause for one syllable of an answer, and then ask another one, Turnbull’s amazing encounter yesterday with Alan Jones (listen to it here) seemed like an extended rant by Jones interrupted, on occasion, by a clearly deeply unhappy Turnbull.
Jones appeared to go entirely off the deep end, simultaneously demanding we take every Tamil refugee and re-establish the Pacific Solution — although he didn’t quite understand the latter. Turnbull struggled to explain the Howard Government’s policy to Jones, even as the latter demanded to know what his policy was. The Prime Minister isn’t the only leader whose line on asylum seekers is a work in progress.
Better yet was when Jones spent several interminable minutes subjecting Turnbull to an assembled Greatest Hits package of his interviews with greenhouse denialists and conspiracy theorists, prompting Jones to claim that climate change was a vast plot to give Australian money to “the Arab-Muslim bloc”.
The only time Turnbull managed to shut him up was when he told him Jones he should be putting the same questions to his idols John Howard and Margaret Thatcher.
Quite why Turnbull insists on punishing himself by returning to front Jones is a mystery, even if it provides brilliant entertainment for the rest of us. If Jones’s ancient, reactionary audience are deserting the Coalition, then it’s time to give up.
It is obvious, Christian church going PM Rudd has difficulty with the truth. This is not personal to him of course, most pollies regard the odd dabble in lies as part of the territory. However Rudd makes a great issue of his religious connection and so much so he does door stops on Sundays after attending church. Admirable to show the electorate he is a God fearing man(?), but when it comes to being loose with the truth Kevin seems to be able to seperate Church from State as it suits. His sudden no knowledge of the goings on with the Oceanic Viking and last night his lack of anything about the sinking boat in the Timor sea, is just too damn stupid. It may be he treats the Opposition as a bunch of idiotic imbociles who can be dealt any hand Rudd sees fit to suit his particular purposes. However, as he has found out this morning, the electorate at large is not as stupid. I mentioned in one of Crikeys blogs when the ‘Indonesian Solution’ was first mooted, the PM was treading on dangerous ground and the Australian public would be quick to send the Govt a message if it appeared they were playing political games.
I have a feeling it is not that the voters wish to return to the bad days of Howard and Ruddock and cronies but they want definite action, not the sloppy carryings on of the past 3 weeks. Plus surely, the best way to antagonise Australians is to dish out millions of dollars to an acknowledged corrupt regime, namely Indonesia, for what??? That country has an appalling human rights record but somehow Rudd sees wisdom in paying a large amount of money with no sure result.
This poll may be the wake up call the PM and his Ministers need to bring them back to reality. Already there are rumblings from the back bench and the union bosses, the PM ignores them at his peril. He has seen what has happened to the Opposition and while such a rebellion is hardly likely in Labor ranks, at this stage, the will to survive sometimes outweighs loyalty to the boss.
One must remember that listening to Alan Jones is a minority activity – around 14% of the Sydney radio audience (plus syndications) which means 86% don’t listen – and that’s only radio listeners. However while the rest of the media (including Crikey) give the man oxygen he continues to breathe enough hot air into the embers of his career to to convince himself, at least, it is still alive. Perhaps Turnbull feels sorry for him as he slides into total irrelevance. Commendable generosity but wasted time and energy.
That interview between Jones and Turnbull is just plain weird, but hugely entertaining. Perhaps that is Jones’ sole purpose. Jones is a nonsensical radical dressed as a conservative. Poor Malcolm always tries to be principled, logical and reasonable (except when he tries to play politics a la the Ute/Grech email fiasco) but faces an uphill battle dealing with not only the likes of Jones but many in his own team such as Abbott who never fails to try for a cheap political shot based usually on a matter with no factual basis and frequently accompanied by that ubiquitous inaudible whistle.
Kevin Rudd has handled the issues beaten up following the rescue at sea by an Australian vessel of Sri Lankan Citizens as well as could be. Nothing sloppy at all in the PM’s responses to a difficult situation.
I couldn’t agre more with both sentiments above. Allan Jones just gets on my goat. I think he’s a misogynist neo-con+??. He didn’t even know what he was talking about most of the time. Kevin Rudd is, as has been pointed out, treating us like we’re stupid, which gets to me every time. I listen to ABC Radio all day, and watch ABC News and The 7.30Report in the evening, and I’m getting sick of the whole damned thing. I wish journalists, including Kerry O’Brien would challenge Rudd & Turnbull with the facts, instead of nonsense questions – over and over again! Chris Urlman is into having an Opinion Piece these days, rather then presenting facts as they occurred?
Talk about a whole new meaning to shock jock! Malcolm must have staggered out of the studio feeling like he’d gone a few rounds with a cattle prod! Jones’ 30-minutes spiteful malicious hysterical tirade is bad radio – stressful stuff. His way or the highway, you’re a laggard Turnbull and get out of my space message is bullying at its best. I feel sorry for the kids he must have tormented as a teacher if this is Jones in his mellow years. The man needs to read a transcript of his performance and apologise to his listeners, the Liberal Party and Malcolm for turning a radio program into a personal punching bag.