Via Domainfax:
In a searing assessment of the Coalition’s chances of recovery, John Hewson told Fairfax Media that Mr Turnbull looked weak for failing to assert his past commitments on climate change, tax policy and marriage equality, and for refusing to call out Mr Abbott despite the growing absurdity of his arguments.
Dr Hewson cited Mr Abbott’s claim this week that global warming could be good for the world saying the statement had laid bare the former prime minister’s role as a wrecker while further isolating him from mainstream Australian voters.
…he said while Mr Turnbull failed to implement a proper policy that drove new energy investment it would be Mr Abbott’s attention-grabbing statements from the conservative right that would define the government to voters.
“It’s a bit ironic but they [voters] elect governments to take the hard decisions and when you don’t take them you look really weak,” he said.
But a senior minister defended the Prime Minister’s restrained handling of the Abbott-led climate insurgency, saying the policy, which is expected to go before cabinet within days or weeks, would aim to deliver reliability, affordability and to achieve emissions reductions consistent with Australia’s Paris commitment as a by-product.It was suggested that the policy, likely to adopt a hybrid approach, could even land in a political “sweet spot” by forcing Mr Abbott to choose between falling in behind it, or perhaps voting with Labor in opposing it.
Pip, pip, what, jolly good, tally ho, and all of that. That’ll show him what’s what, eh?
Do-nothing Malcolm is not weak. He is an empty, tactical calculus machine that would not know strategic or values-based commitment if it ran him over in a bus.
His behaviour consistently illustrates a divisive personality, by turns charming and effusive then just as quickly cold and indifferent. He raises stakeholders and issues then drops them in a heart beat. Such high charm, mercurial thinking, inability to plan and power lust are characteristic of a lack of real empathy and inability to attach with people and issues.
This stands as a stark warning to anyone that relies upon him for anything.
