Yesterday, after a week from hell in which even the News Corp papers turned on him, Tony Abbott gave a press conference that earned him some breathing room in the media. By admitting what everyone already knew to be the case — that his actions on ABC funding weren’t consistent with his pre-election commitment — Abbott was finally doing the right thing, according to parts of the Canberra press gallery.
Phillip Coorey wrote in the AFR that Abbott was “throwing himself to the wolves” by offering to answer questions from journalists (isn’t that part of his job?), while Dennis Shanahan in The Australian described the conference as an admission that there were “problems with tactics and perceptions”. “The Prime Minister has shown he is listening,” the Oz editorialised.
The problem is, it’s the Abbott government’s policies, not the PM’s communication problems, that have the masses deserting it in droves — universally unfair policies that make education and healthcare more expensive and unemployment more difficult. Yes, the messaging of them has been atrocious, but getting real with a room full of journalists doesn’t address the core problem facing the Abbott government.
Canberra’s political reporters have a tendency to focus on political personalities and messaging — this is understandable, since the press gallery is central to that process. But getting the gallery on side won’t shift voters’ conviction that the budget is unfair and the government can’t be trusted. And if Abbott’s mea culpa doesn’t come with policy changes it will prove once and for all that the government has learnt nothing from its year of woe.
For two weekends now The Weekend Oz has got stuck into Abbott. He has also taken hits from Bolt and Jones, and this morning, Karl S.
The drums are beating.
Once he loses support from the Murdoch press, that will be the end of him.
Its time to place your bets on the date he goes and, and the name of our next PM.
Let’s look at the field? :-
1 Rumpole Spinbull – top-weight, failed at wfa in the Utegate Stakes.
2 Bishop’s Pawn – likes to lead, but found wanting when she lost her position on the UN Plate.
3 Froggy Macfarlane – chances enhanced in a bog.
4 Erica Bets – failed Grechedly when ridden to lead the Utegate.
5 Beetle George – blinkers won’t help.
6 Shonky Joe – carrying to much weight in the saddle-bags.
7 Pyne Needies – show-pony only.
8 Ghoulie Andrews – Hanif a chance if he can get cover.
9 Dutton the Glutton – suspect at any distance.
10 Bruised Billson – who?
11 Robber’s Dog – more suited to pulling the milk cart.
12 Woody Johnston – scratched.
13 Half-bake Hunt – more suited to a claimer race.
14 Scrott Morrison – only in a boat race.
15 Coronas on Cormann – bled someone else last time in.
[Emergencies]
16 Frankly Fifield – I remember ewe?
17 Ronald Ronaldson – bound for a whoppa if he fails this time.
18 Lay Lady Ley -a rise in class but her hands are clean.
19 Payne in the Class – won’t start in the red.
20 My Kinda’ Cash – remember that “Chalice of Blood”?
mark, the drums may be beating, but while the natives are restless it’s not an unrest which will send most of them into our camp because too many are equally upset with us for accommodating camp following Greens who stampeded the ‘Great Negotiator” into what was seen as selling out ordinary Labor supporters in exchange for the comforts of The Lodge.
Norman are you really pretending to be in the Labor camp or did I read that wrong?
max, I’ve been working for Labor candidates since W.W.II. In 1949 I didn’t take up Clarrie Martin’s request to join because my family was upset over Labor’s dropping of Jesse Street as our local candidate and finally joined when I moved to Wagga in 1955.
It’s decades since I ceased to be on National Executive etc., but I still work for candidates I consider to not be part of the self-promoting Powerbroker Leadership cartel.
Any questions?