Is Tony Abbott another Mark Latham? That seems to be the talking point being eased out tentatively by senior Labor figures, with Financial Services Minister Chris Bowen testing the line in an interview on ABC Radio National this morning.
If the Government can successfully position Abbott in the public mind as Lathamesque — risky, reckless, undisciplined, erratic — that’s almost all they need to do to ensure re-election this year.
But maybe what the Government should do is say nothing. After all, the Opposition has two Lathams at its helm — Abbott and Barnaby Joyce. The idea that at least one of them won’t pull the pin out of several hand grenades this year is, frankly, implausible.
Which should make for some great theatre, if not great politics.
Latham at least stood for a certain brand of class politics. It is hard to say what Abbott really believes in or what he won’t compromise in the name of crass political opportunism.
I just watched Barnaby Joyce at the Press Club on ABC.
If he survives until election he will be absolutely consumed by Lindsay Tanner.
Even the News Ltd journos seemed to be rolling their eyes. Any hope of a coalition victory is gone if he’s let near an informed audience.
Lathamesque is a good description to those who just sat through Abbott’s response to the PM’s tabling of the govt’s achievements after 2 years in power. The list of achievements was quite impresive to anyone with an egalitarian bent.
But, the opposition leader said ‘the electorate doesn’t like PM’s who spout their achievements’ and they don’t like ‘Pm’s who look backward’. — a good way of saying ‘we have no answer to that so lets just shove it aside’.
Now, as I listen to Joe Hockey talk further rubbish (and commending Barnaby Joyce for his press club speech) I wonder where they’ve hidden their intelligence?
Rolling of eyes is the least of it.
Perhaps from the perspective of personality, then Abbott is similar to Latham as aforementioned. However, Abbott does also share those invigorating traits that Latham had- that of conviction and confidence.
Where this is completely false is in that Latham was a guru in policy innovation and direction. He stood out from his party and offered new, striking and fresh policy to an Australia that longs for creativity. All Abbott has to offer is an alternative to an ETS…
One good newspoll and Crikey and it’s leftist cronies are already in a panic! – The tide is turning guys…