You always go looking for the proof in the pudding, and that’s what will happen in any analysis of Anthony Albanese’s promised new way of doing things.
The promise is overdue and welcome. A more respectful Parliament, with less bad behaviour. Better language. A bigger focus on ideas, rather than personalities.
It sounds just what the voters ordered. But two announcements by the new prime minister are worth considering in that context.
The chief one is the demotion of talented and experienced MP Tanya Plibersek. The new prime minister has had plenty of opportunities to explain his thinking, but has stumbled at every hurdle.
Yes, the environment is crucially important, especially as a lure for voters who lined up to support teal candidates on that platform.
But if the environment portfolio is that important to give to one of his most experienced MPs, why not put “climate change” in there too — because that’s where the power lies, and that part of the portfolio doesn’t sit in Plibersek’s new in-tray.
Why wouldn’t Albanese do that? Or why would he ignore the enormous work she has done in education, in preparation for government? Why would she be stripped of the women’s portfolio, a responsibility she held — and built — in opposition? Why ignore her popularity during the campaign, and ensure limited media coverage for one of his party’s biggest electoral assets?
The answer keeps drifting back to politics, and the old way of doing things. Plibersek and Albanese have had tense relations over two leaderships — in 2013 and 2019. One political pundit remembers being mystified, in 2013, when he saw both alight a plane at Sydney airport.
Despite having neighbouring electorates, and despite being part of the same state party for decades, they went in separate directions, without any hint of acknowledgement.
And then when Plibersek overstepped the mark by likening Peter Dutton to Harry Potter villain Voldemort, her leader was quick to step in and join the admonishment of her. Perhaps that was correct, but it also ignored the long, strained relationship between Plibersek and Dutton, where he’s been awfully unfair to her too.
“I want to change the way that politics operates,” Albanese said. “Let’s actually talk about the issues and let’s try to find some common interest going forward.”
Some of Plibersek’s supporters might suggest he practise what he preaches.
But it’s another announcement that points to Albanese’s political nous. His elevation of the Uluru Statement of the Heart, in his victory speech, was warm and welcome — and long overdue.
That is not in doubt. But as more than one conspiracist has suggested, perhaps that focus was both welcome and an immediate political shot across the bow at Peter Dutton, who was being tagged the new likely leader within minutes of an obvious Labor victory.
The new opposition leader walked out during the apology to the Stolen Generations. This is an issue that will provide him with a leadership headache, and an issue that did not receive the oxygen it deserved until election night.
Anthony Albanese has not kept his Sydney seat for 26 years without knowing how to play the political game.
And if he genuinely wants to run politics in a new and inclusive way where ideas dominate, not petty histories, we’ll see Plibersek be welcomed more into the fold — and talk of Dutton’s sorry walk-out relegated to the old way of doing things.
The SMH’s take – yesterday – on this is largely in line with yours, Madonna. The commentary on it was similar to what is being pointed out here, too – that the portfolio she has been given is actually critical, and that Education is actually a doddle compared to this.
I’d like more detail on exactly how Albo has failed to explain himself in the 2 days since the announcement, and proof that Plibersek has been blindsided by the appointment/demotion. Because at the moment I’m not buying it and instead choose to be hopeful that Tanya can make a real difference here.
Yeah, this take smacks of ‘do as I say…’ It argues for politics to be played more respectfully, then tries to create drama out of a minor decision in the old tired style of horse racing coverage, desperate to find winners and losers.
Tanya Plibersek is the Minister for Environment AND Water. There are ‘water wars’ (the shooting, killing and population ‘clearing’ type of wars) ongoing today in various parts of the planet. In my opinion, water is the most important and precious resource any country has. Without water there is no food security (if you also happen to have sufficient arable land). Without ‘water’ there is no security for any population. So if anyone (including the new PM) believes Ms Plibersek has been ‘demoted’ you have missed the point. The Water portfolio is possibly more important than the Defence and Foreign Affairs portfolios.
So I guess we can expect to see Plibbers hold the filthy Nats to account over their water crimes…?
I’d buy a ticket
Me too and I would want a front row seat
Well said indeed!..I think Tanya was seen as a very large asset to take on environment and water…two of the most important areas in government right now. Demotion is just Liberal lies as usual.
Talk about stirring up ‘leadership battles’…straight out of the Libs playbook…the new Labor government is just over two weeks old, and already we get this rubbish!
Agree with all of this, it is so frustrating that environment is considered a demotion! And all news outlets, including here are saying it! This is such LNP hangover thinking, let’s just mature and move on. She is a major asset, he would totally respect that, he isn’t an idiot. Environment first in my opinion. It’s in big trouble, the LNP were dismantling protection, it needs a major overhaul. The climate change situation is dire too, that means, keep them separate. They are all interlinked, human equity and resources, environment, economy, climate change etc etc. You don’t give them all to one person.
But we cant live without oxygen, so shouldnt we have a Minister for Oxygen? If you have read Dune you would know we can make do with less water.
I agree. After the so-called Coalition environment minister, Sussan Ley, thrashed her portfolio (remember her lobbying against UNESCO’s push to heritage-list the Barrier Reef) the presence of the experienced and committed Plibersek is welcome.
To tag her ministry as a demotion is facile as she is in a position where the whole world will be watching her moves. Have we forgotten so soon that the Greens made huge gains because of their stand on the environment? Madonna King appears to have beaten up a mischievous belief of “demotion” to prop up her column.
Yes I think that the media are making too much of Minister Plibersek’s change in portolios. Fact is that Environment AND Water are 2 incredibly contentious areas. They both, especially Water, require the deft handling of a competent, capable and experienced minister. Ms. Plibersek has handled a variety of portfolios over her time in parliament. She has the depth and breadth of experience. This is nothing more to it than what it is; one of the governments strongest players taking care of one the most demanding portfolios.
Well said!
Good to see that every comment on this article disagrees with the author’s characterization of the issue !
A very skilled person for a very difficult ministry. Not a demotion
I don’t buy this ‘demotion’ line especially when voters were giving feedback prior to the election that environment & climate change were priorities.
And why does Albanese need to’ explain his thinking’ when allocating portfolios? Perhaps certain arrogant sections of the media believe they can still pressure & hector Albanese to continually justify himself. Frankly I’d be happy if he told them to sod off.
I’d be even happier if they did….