Friday 17th of May 2024
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The liar who “never lies”

liarliar

This is an extract from the ninth Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year message of the former Labor MP, science minister and national president of the ALP.

The year 2020 was bad enough, but the cumulative effect of  another Covid year, with the prospect of a third coming up, was debilitating, and shook many comfortable assumptions we might have had about an ambitious commitment to improve the state of the world.

Loss of face-to-face contact, increasing reliance on digital communication, the grave threats to education, especially universities, the arts and creativity generally, the ABC, were all profoundly disturbing.

On the positive side, the dedicated work of medical scientists, health professionals generally, was outstanding, even inspirational. We have good reason to be grateful for dedicated and courageous journalists, and researchers generally, who often told people what they did not want to hear, and paid a price for it.

The democratic crisis 

The year 2021 marked the 20th anniversary of the attack on the Twin Towers in New York by al-Qaeda on September 11, 2001, an event which changed the world profoundly.

Democracy faces its greatest existential crisis since the 1930s. Hitler used democratic forms to come to power in Germany but rejected the democratic ethos. What is sometimes called ‘the Enlightenment project’ has come under sustained attack in the United States, much of Europe, and to a lesser degree, so far, Australia.

There has been a sharp crisis of confidence in democratic practice, and the quality of leadership, in the US, in the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Austria, Poland, many other European states, Russia, Turkey, much of South America, and virtually all of Africa.

The global scene was marked by the rise of rightist, nationalist, anti-immigrant and protectionist parties, authoritarian rule, corrupted elections, the emergence of kleptocratic rulers, suppression of free speech, suspension of the rule of law, resort to violence and adoption of the surveillance state.

Democracy is under internal threats with the rise of populism, nativism, decaying institutions, with corruption accepted as normal, with vested interests setting agendas, leaders who refuse to be accountable for their actions, ‘retail politics’, where leaders fail to ask of a proposition ‘Is it right’, but ‘Will it sell?’, in a new era in which feeling and opinion displace analysis and evidence, and leaders fail to lead.

Trump has now gone as president, but there is a high probability that Trumpistas will win the midterm elections for both Houses of Congress in 2022 and a return by Trump to the White House in 2024 is a distinct possibility.

Australian democracy is under serious threat and neither the Coalition nor the federal ALP have any vision beyond the election of 2022. Citizens have to be prepared to engage and challenge to tackle the global threat of climate change. The Coalition, captive of the fossil fuel lobby, lies about meeting global targets for emissions reductions and the Opposition’s line on climate change is vague and shifty. The states, irrespective of political allegiances, have been prepared to set targets: the Commonwealth has not – because there will be three elections before 2030 and 10 before 2050.

The well respected ‘Democracy Index 2020’, published by The Economist’s Intelligence Unit calculates that only 8.4 per cent of the world’s population live in a ‘full democracy’. Denmark ranks No.1, followed by Norway, Finland and New Zealand.

Australia ranks No.9, but we cannot take it for granted. We have become increasingly secretive, authoritarian, sensitive to criticism and corrupt.

Morrison’s doublespeak  

For a professed Christian such as Scott Morrison, the plight of refugees from the Middle East ought to evoke memories  of the famous story of a child and his parents (well, his mother and her husband, certainly) in fear of persecution who fled to Egypt as refugees seeing asylum. Should they have been sent back? Imprisoned? Told they would have to take their place in the queue? For a Prime Minister who had made his political reputation for harshness towards refugees, even he must see the irony in holding refugees on  a place called Christmas Island.  We know that he lacks a sense of humour and doesn’t read much, but surely the inconsistency between the spirit of the Beatitudes and a gratuitous harshness must keep him awake occasionally?

Cruelty has proved to be a marketable community in some parts of Australia.

Morrison’s is the most corrupt Commonwealth government in our history, the most vindictive and the least accountable, far worse than Bob Askin’s government in New South Wales and Joh Bjelke-Petersen’s in Queensland. It is true that some ALP ministers have been shockers – Eddie Obeid and Ian Macdonald in NSW – and one ALP national president, Michael Williamson, but not governments, state or Commonwealth.

I had my difficulties with Bob Hawke, but he took a very tough line about the mere perception of corruption or a conflict of interest, and this meant that able ministers, close to the prime minister personally, had to resign – Ros Kelly, Mick Young (over his wife’s failure to make a Customs declaration about a Paddington Bear) and John Brown.

When John Howard won government in 1996, seven of his ministers were soon dispatched for minor infringements. Since Howard  and Morrison are reputed to be close it is baffling that Howard has not passed on his advice in this area. Of course, if he did Morrison’s frontbench would be threadbare.

Morrison’s appeal incorporates what I have called ‘the five rejections’, his opposition, both implicit and explicit, to

  • complexity,
  • modernity,
  • multiculturalism,
  • science and
  • expert opinion.

John Hewson, the former Liberal leader, and I have teamed up in three areas: as board members of the Accountability Round Table (ART), Patrons of Climate200 and Joint Patrons of The Truth and Integrity Project (TIP).

The Accountability Round Table, chaired by Fiona McLeod, SC, is devoted to the creation of a Commonwealth Integrity Commission, with independent authority and power to call witnesses on matters involving corruption in the political process. ART’s board includes retired judges, former politicians, public servants, lawyers and academics.

 

Climate200, an organisation driven by Simon Holmes à Court, is supporting candidates committed to Australia taking strong action to mitigate climate change and embrace a post-carbon economy, establish an effective CIC and end the toxic culture of misogyny in public life.

The Truth and Integrity Project is a social media-focused advocacy campaign targeting Morrison’s poor record on integrity matters and climate action in the lead-up to the federal election.

Both of us are troubled by the failure by both the Coalition parties and the ALP to take on courageous policies. But the yawning abyss of Australia’s grossly inadequate and mendacious response to climate change and the unprecedented levels of corruption at a federal level are the responsibility of government, not opposition.

On climate change Morrison is wicked, Joyce pretends to be crazy, while Labor is timid and fearful.

Morrison and Albanese appear to be closer to each other on climate change than they are to Joe Biden, Boris Johnson, Emmanuel Macron, the NSW Coalition and Victorian Labor governments.

Morrison is an unusually elusive target.

Sean Kelly’s new book The Game: A Portrait of Scott Morrison (Black Inc, 2021) is outstanding, especially on Morrison’s relationship with truth, language and his astonishing capacity to pivot. He rationalises along these lines: ‘I am an honest person. Honest persons don’t tell lies. Therefore it’s impossible that I could ever lie.’

Morrison’s use of language is purely ‘transactional’ — ‘What is the issue I am asked about today? It doesn’t matter what I said yesterday. I don’t even remember what I said then, but right here and now, this is the truth for me. It may be a different truth tomorrow.’

 

Read more:

https://johnmenadue.com/dear-friends-a-notable-australian-thinker-looks-to-a-better-2022/

 

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Political ganglands…

The aborted ‘Gladys for Warringah’ campaign demonstrated the Liberal Party’s contempt for propriety and morality in public life.

When politicians resign or retire from politics, particularly where this decisions is unexpected, they often frame this in moral or aspirational terms – “having achieved all that they set out to do in public office they are now stepping aside to explore other opportunities” or “spend more time with their family”. In contrast, it is rare that such announcements make mention of the moral failings, errors of judgment or political compromises that may have hastened their decision or characterised their tenure of office.

Sometimes, however, the circumstances of a politician’s resignation or retirement, or the language that surrounds it, speak so loudly of the morality of politics and public office that they should not be quickly consigned to history but should demand reflection on what it is we want from our politicians and our political systems. The formal announcement by the ex-Premier of NSW, Gladys Berejiklian that she is retiring from politics is one such example.

Berejiklian’s announcement followed a month of sustained lobbying from the Prime Minister Scott Morrison for her to contest the federal seat of Warringah on the grounds that she would be the ‘ideal person’ to win back the federal seat of Warringah for the Liberal party from Independent Zali Steggall – who won the seat in a landslide from long-term sitting member Tony Abbott in 2019. Condemning the ongoing Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) inquiry into Berejiklian as ‘awful’ and ‘shameful’, in making his public appeal to Berejiklian, Morrison declared that in his view Berejiklian was a person of ‘great integrity’ and that the people of Warringah would welcome her ‘having a crack’ at winning the seat.

While the push by the Prime Minister, Abbott and others to have Berejiklian stand as a candidate for Warringah was ultimately unsuccessful, it is worth recalling exactly why  Berejiklian’s integrity was at issue and reflecting on what her potential nomination as the Liberal candidate for Warringah says about the Prime Minister’s own judgment and integrity, on what Berejiklian’s political legacy may ultimately be and about the morality of contemporary politics.

Over the past year Berejiklian has faced questions regarding whether her decision to direct millions of dollars to the Riverina Conservatorium of Music and the Australian Clay Target Association against departmental advice amounted to pork-barrelling and whether her (undisclosed) relationship with ex-Member Daryl Maguire constituted a conflict of interest and could have misled the public.

In each case Berejiklian has denied any wrongdoing – nonchalantly defending her actions as completely consistent with public expectations of politics, politicians and democracy.

In testimony to the ICAC, Berejiklian objected that, despite clear evidence to the contrary, that as treasurer and then premier, her personal relationship with Maguire had no potential to influence the performance of her public duties and need not have been declared.

Likewise, when brazenly acknowledging that the $140m Council Grants program was used to serve the interests of the Liberal Party, Berejiklian noted that: “It’s not something the community likes … but it’s an accusation I will wear,”….“It’s not an illegal practice… …..“I don’t think it would be a surprise to anybody that we throw money at seats to keep them,” and, perhaps most tellingly, “At the end of the day, whether we like it or not, that’s democracy.”

Berejiklian was, of course, right that the Australian public would not be surprised to hear that incumbent governments will throw money at seats to retain government. Indeed it would a surprise if after the revelations that the Commonwealth’s $100m Community Sports Infrastructure grants program, $389m commuter car parks scheme and $8.5m Safer Communities Fund were all manipulated for the benefit of the government prior to the 2019 federal election that anyone would think otherwise!

But she is wrong about liberal democracy, she is wrong about what constitutes the legitimate use of public money, she is wrong about the irrelevance of public service, she is wrong about the need for transparency in public office and about the management of personal interests and she is wrong about the link between ethics and law.

(Mis) using public funds for political gain is not about democracy but about the abuse of power and government. Unethical practices may not be illegal simply because governments and parliaments lack the political will to make them so. Personal interests undoubtedly may pervert public duties and create conflicts on interest. And public servants must, first and foremost, serve the public and not their political masters.

So how could Berejiklian have responded in a more ethical way to the accusation that she should have recused herself from any role in making decisions about allocating funding to Wagga Wagga because of her relationship with Maguire? She could have said:

“I want to state clearly that this is not Daryl Maguire’s fault, although he clearly sought to use his position and his relationship with me for personal and political gain, but mine. For I should have recognised, declared and managed what was undoubtedly a conflict of interest. And by not doing so I corrupted proper process, misled others in government and public office and ultimately did not live up to my own standards and the standards that should be expected of politicians and political leaders. And for that I am truly sorry.”

And what could Morrison have said about the ICAC inquiry into Berejiklian’s behaviour and her role in the allocation of council grants that could have reassured the public that politicians were interested in the probity of our political system? Perhaps something along the following lines:

“While I have made clear my concerns about the ICAC, these types of inquiries undoubtedly shed light on issues of public importance – in this case the way that governments allocate public funds. The Premier has already acknowledged that she and her party engaged in pork-barrelling — an accusation that, rightly or wrongly, has also been directed at grants programs administered by my government. These are not new concerns, nor partisan ones. Indeed, there is no doubt that state and federal governments – from both sides of politics, have long used the public purse to influence the community, curry favour and buy votes. While, as the Premier has said, the fact that pork-barrelling occurs may not surprise anyone, it is also clear that this is not a practice that the community supports. So I want to give an undertaking to the people of Australia that, from today, with me, this practice will stop. That from today distribution of government grants and support will be determined at arms-length — not on the basis of self-interest, but on merit.”

But neither responded in this way. Each put self-interest above public interest. Strength above grace. Power above humility. Politics above ethics. And by doing so the PM and the Premier disrespected public office, eroded the status of women in politics, confirmed the public perception of moral decay within political life and, possibly worst of all, normalised the corruption of political process. Berejiklian and Morrison are not the first politicians to have done so – and, sadly, they won’t be the last. But by acting in this way their political legacy will be marked not by genuine political achievements but by their contribution to moral turpitude.

There are precious few moments where the morality, dignity and importance of public office and political discourse is visible. Precious few. Some politicians, perhaps including NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, who has initiated a review to ensure that government grants “achieve value for public money, are robust in their planning and design, and adopt key principles of transparency, ­accountability, and probity”, appear to recognise the degree to which politics has become diminished and disrespected and see the need for radical action to regain public trust. (Although only time will tell whether the new Premier also has more to lose by challenging the foundations of political self-interest.)

Others, including the Prime Minister, and the ex-premier, appear not to. Berejiklian made clear her views about democracy and public service in her brazen defence of pork-barrelling and her denial of a conflict of interest in the distribution of public funds. And by focusing his ire on the ICAC rather than on Berejiklian’s own conduct and on the political system that has implicitly and explicitly enabled political self-interest, corruption of process and pork-barrelling, and by promoting Berejiklian as the right person to ‘regain’ Abbott’s seat, it seems clear that the Prime Minister does not recognise or does not care about the degree to which public office and civic duty has been degraded. As the world struggles to reimagine itself in the shadow of the pandemic we should be clear that the kind of democracy and moral life that Morrison and Berejiklian support is not the kind that Warringah, NSW or Australia needs. Not now. Not ever.

 

Read more:

https://johnmenadue.com/the-pm-the-premier-and-the-demoralisation-of-public-service/

 

Read from top.

 

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rooles are rooles…

When you hear Scomobum saying "rules are rules" in relation to "imprisoning" the best tennis player in the world because of Covid-whatever, you know the bullshit has been applied in the shit-space you call Orstraya... Hard to know who gave Novak a visa or what political game has been played?... It was not Victoria's. It was... the Scomoshitland government... So get a life Scumdog Morrison. You would not be able to hold a cricket bat straight... because you don't know which end of a tennis racket to use...

 

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a crooked racket…

You don’t have to be cynical to suspect the Prime Minister jumping on the “Novax Djokovid” bandwagon is more about creating a distraction than upholding border security.

Scott Morrison’s track record will do that for you.

And there is indeed an urgent need for a distraction:

  • The COVID testing system has been blown up
  • The Prime Minister’s monumental clanger of preferencing “the private market” for RATs over public health advice is hurting badly, with even the Australian Financial Review running multiple negative stories
  • The overall RATs debacle is being sheeted home to the federal government for delaying the tests’ approval for use here and then failing to move on supply until there was already a shortage
  • Businesses and individuals are increasingly suffering from a spreading voluntary lockdown as Omicron runs riot under the “let it rip” policy championed by Mr Morrison
  • Stories are leaking out of hospitals failing their own care standards as cases jump and staff contract the virus
  • About 2000 aged-care homes are short staffed, existing somewhere between a permanent state of fear of imminent disaster and the actual disaster of solitary confinement lockdowns
  • Governments changing definitions to obtain less embarrassing outcomes are not fooling many
  • And there is that ongoing problem of Mr Morrison “being economical with the truth”, to put it mildly.

(Such is his credibility that I’m not the only one who won’t believe “Jen” has been popping out to the chemist to buy RATs until I see verified CCTV footage.)

 

Read more:

https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2022/01/06/michael-pascoe-morrison-novax-serve-rats-disaster/

 

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