The ongoing argument over why Peter Dutton lost the McPherson preselection on the weekend is, as far as I can tell, being driven by two factors.
One is what can be generally lumped under the heading “Brandis disaffection.” There are a number of ex-Liberal (now, to their chagrin, LNP) MPs and Senators who objected to the Liberal-National merger from the get-go, worked hard against it and swore it would have disastrous consequences.
The defeat of Dutton (who started off opposed to the merger, then swung behind it with enthusiasm when it looked unstoppable) is being used by those forces – primarily represented by George Brandis – as an example of exactly the sort of consequences they predicted: the Nats have taken over and are pursuing their own vindictive agenda against the Liberals, at the expense of unity.
The other is what seemed to be an Australian-based campaign to play up the problems with Malcolm Turnbull’s leadership, by portraying the preselection outcome as a direct attack on his authority, given he supported Dutton. Peter van Onselen, whom I normally don’t mind as a political observer on the Liberal side, today continued the line, which Glenn Milne has also pushed, that Dutton was the victim of a Nationals plot. Van Onselen was also behind what I regarded as a misleading “survey” of backbenchers last week that established the obvious point that most backbenchers didn’t want to negotiate with the Government before Copenhagen – something which is in fact party policy anyway.
It was also amusing that Dennis Shanahan insisted a couple of time that the today’s disastrous Newspoll showed the Nationals’ vote holding steady (reflecting the success of the Nationals’ anti-ETS stand), when in fact it went from 5 to 4. For those so disposed, that’s a shock 20% collapse…
Dutton was dudded not by the Nats buy by his fellow Liberals, who wanted a Liberal, and his own poor judgment. Some Nats actually voted for him. The only plot is in the minds of News Ltd commentators.
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‘The only plot is in the minds of News Ltd commentators.’
As per usual for Rupert and his minions, who appear to have taken on the mantle of Opposition, here, in the US, and in Britain, from the media tent. To the extent that, they now openly spruik the candidature for the Liberal Party, in NSW, of one of thier own, former ‘The Oz’ Opinion page Editor, Tom Switzer, without so much as the merest hint of a blush of embarassment at being so obviously on one side of the political fence.
They also appear to have determined that the repellant Peter Dutton is a future leader, very much in-waiting, of the federal parliamentary Liberal Party. As we all well know, once The Australian determines their political agenda, they are like a dog with a bone, until they get their way, using every trick in the book to advance their point of view.
Might I just finish by saying that, no wonder Stephen Conroy doesn’t want Foxtel to gain any more prominence in the media in Australia. Who wants an Australian version of ‘Fairly Unbalanced’ Fox News in Australia?
This is a pretty good roundup of the state of play in QLD> re Dutton:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26171012-5006786,00.html
I reckon Dutton dudded himself by mowing down his grass roots. If you look at the long-term political success stories – Joh, Beattie, Keith Wright, Warren Truss, Archie Bevis, Rob Schwarten etc – they’re all knock’ em down blokes with a touch of the larrikin. As a former Queensland police officer Dutton looked a goer against the treacherous floozy Cheryl Kernot until he made the same fatal error of being an unprincipled turncoat. Up north talent and experience don’t always translate to popularity.
Having lived in three of our eastern states – I believe that personal values in Queensland are different to elsewhere. It is hard for southerners to grasp how hard people can get up here. It’s masculine and mincey at the same time – Brandis is a good portrayal.
As I have always said-I’m quoting myself: “God is an anachronism but QLD is worse.”
The Australian has been campaigning against the Rudd government with gutso and vigor. How little influence they have is the real news revealed by the poll results.
I think it was already well known that Dennis Shanahan needs remedial lessons on reading numbers.
the funny thing about the liberals is – they play dirty EVERYDAY. When, by some miracle, they out smart themselves, they assume the other team played dirtier. It kind of reminds me of when the bully finally gets picked on – he cant stop wailing to the teacher. karma