all of the above

A bit of a change in topic compared to my usual fare, but I thought that this was interesting enough to warrant it. While this is a post about Australian politics I will attempt to keep my personal bias as far removed as possible. For the benefit of non-Australians, the Australian Liberal Party is comparable to the US Republicans and the Australian Labor Party is comparable to the US Democrats.

You can watch the 13 minute Vodcast which I am discussing by clicking here and selecting the Tony Abbott interview or you can hit it directly here.

What has happened to the Australian Liberal Party is frankly jaw-dropping. I doubt that anyone would have disagreed that two years ago it appeared to be the very strongest party in Australian history. What I found most impressive was that it was a party that seemed to have an iron-clad solidarity, it functioned as a whole and all of it’s members were always careful to reinforce that in both word and action. That was before the election.

Nowadays, it is a very different story. It is always a tall order to rebound from an election defeat however the Liberals appear to have completely fallen apart, some but not all of which is discussed in the interview with Tony Abbott on Lateline which I have posted a link to above. It is well worth watching. Tony Abbott who was one of the stalwarts of the Howard era appears to be at a complete loss in the interview. I’ve watched him many times, in parliament, the press club and on various television and radio programs and while I intensely dislike the man’s belligerent, steamroller approach to a debate or a speech (sorry, trying to keep the bias in check), I would have to agree that he is very successful at maintaining his points while scuttling his opponents. So it is all the more damning to see him at such a loss in this interview. This is the moment, mid-interview, that perfectly sums up the post-election state of the Liberals. It is the moment when Abbott resigns himself to the thought that Brendan Nelson is the best that they can do currently.

That is of course until the wind changes and Turnbull, Costello, or a whole host of others or even Tony Abbott himself challenges for the leadership.

Or else maybe it was the part about the tradition of ‘knifing their leaders?’ It certainly looks like that is the future that is in store for Dr. Nelson.

I had a thought that it could be a ploy to lump up all of the post-election bad-will onto one figure and then usher in a new leader when the going gets a easier versus Rudd. It certainly is not an easy task to go up against Rudd right now, however the Liberals are going to be damaged severely in the long term if they do not get their act together soon, as in this week. Some people (as is mentioned in the interview) are speaking about the possibility that the Liberals have already lost the next election. While I do think that is going a little too far, I don’t think that it is too much to say that Peter Costello is doing both the country and the Liberal party a huge disservice by being unclear about his intentions.

Tony Abbot’s discomfort is palpable. He shifts and moves constantly and perhaps most tellingly are his audible grumbles of admission and frustrated breaths of resignation while being asked the questions. Listen for them, I’ve never seen Mr Abbott seemingly so emotional and frustrated.

Tony Abbott

Tony Jones

The Interview

Meanwhile, has anyone else noticed how brutal Virginia Trioli can be in an interview? Do not try and skirt the issue with her. I’m a big fan, but don’t worry Tony Jones you’re still my favourite (opening an interview with a question about political knifing… yes!).