He noted that the National Party Constitution stated that one of the party’s objectives is the “maintenance of democracy and liberty.”
“I have heard it stated that ‘this issue doesn’t create one job.’ Neither does the Omnibus Savings and Child Care Reform bill. But we’re still doing that,” Mr Christensen said.
“I have also heard it said that it’s not the issue people are talking about in pubs or in farm sheds. They weren’t talking about the Australian Building and Construction Commission either, but we still brought it back.”
Mr Christensen said that 18C was political correctness enshrined into law and that it stifled freedom of speech.
“Nothing could be more of an affront to Australian values.”
That’s a bit rich. There are still plenty of words to abuse folks with without bringing race or sex into it (see title!).
PM’s secret press conference. The Prime Minister’s Office usually sends out media alerts in advance of any of Malcolm Turnbull’s radio or TV interviews or media events in order to allow the media to organise to cover them. This morning, however, interviews on an FM breakfast show and on AM were not announced in advance, except via the PM’s Twitter account, and a subsequent doorstop in the Mural Hall (a rarity for the Prime Minister) came with no media alert. However, word spread through the gallery quickly enough for a large contingent of the press to be there.
In any case, after Turnbull continued to refuse to endorse or condemn the Fair Work Commission’s decision on penalty rates, the member for Wentworth confirmed he would not attend the largest event in his electorate — the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras — on Saturday due to commitments interstate. Turnbull has frequently attended the event in the past, but it is not surprising he is suddenly too busy, considering the AGM at Mardi Gras attempted to uninvite him. Because he has failed to allow a free vote on marriage equality, he would likely face a somewhat hostile crowd.
Plus it’s not clear if he would have had permission from George Christensen, anyway. He did send his well wishes in LGBTI rag Star Observer, in the most bland way possible.
A salient lesson in politics. When you stand for nothing, everyone hates you.
David Llewellyn-Smith is Chief Strategist at the MB Fund and MB Super. David is the founding publisher and editor of MacroBusiness and was the founding publisher and global economy editor of The Diplomat, the Asia Pacific’s leading geo-politics and economics portal.
He is also a former gold trader and economic commentator at The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, the ABC and Business Spectator. He is the co-author of The Great Crash of 2008 with Ross Garnaut and was the editor of the second Garnaut Climate Change Review.
