I awoke the next day, picked up my iPad beside my bed and tuned into The Guardian. Dutton “believes in climate change,” declared the headline. If l believed my ears the night before, he had declared he didn’t.
“I don’t know because I’m not a scientist and can’t tell you whether the temperature has risen in [outback Queensland town] Thargomindah because of climate change or the water levels are up.”
Silly me, l took that to mean he didn’t believe in climate change; only scientists had enough facts to make it accurate. What strange logic, l thought to myself.
Nothing has ever stood in the way of science and technology. Its advancement phas been staggering. So why are the conservative political forces so opposed to it? When something is demonstrated, true beyond any doubt, don’t we generally believe it?
Science has opened my eyes to a multitude of truths. I’ve come to terms with the reality of AI, a notion that transports me back to late last year.
During that time, a striking video surfaced, capturing Nationals senator Matt Canavan candidly describing his party’s nuclear policy as nothing more than a “political fix.”
“With an air of resignation, he acknowledged that this approach is far from the most economical energy source.”
In an eye-opening podcast interview conducted in August, Senator Canavan expressed his candid views on his party’s stance regarding nuclear power as a remedy for soaring energy costs. He conveyed a striking sentiment, stating:
“Nuclear power is simply not the answer we need. We share in this oversight – we aren’t genuinely committed to exploring this option. We’re merely clinging to the notion of nuclear energy,”
He emphasised during his conversation with the National Conservative Institute podcast. His words painted a picture of a party grappling with its priorities, hesitant to embrace the bold solutions that the energy crisis demands.
He doesn’t know what he believes in, and his party is full of Luddites. Dutton has now made three clangers that will cloud over the balance of the campaign. Firstly, he wanted to sack 41,000 public servants; secondly, he admitted he made a mistake in the rush to comment on reports that Russian planes may be based in Indonesia. Thirdly, his prevarication about climate change left everyone stunned.
If you were daring, you could add another mistake: the Coalition’s promised tax break for food and entertainment expenses, saying “bosses’ long lunches” would be subsidised by the Coalition’s reversal of Labor’s surprise budget tax cut.
These were three or four monumental missteps by a man vying for the esteemed role of Prime Minister of Australia. With each blunder, my trust in him eroded, leaving me feeling as if I couldn’t rely on him more than I could launch him into the sky with a mighty throw. And believe me, that’s quite a hefty toss!
Let’s return to the campaign. Peter Dutton and his allies are woefully unprepared to take the reins of government. I’m still grappling with the tumultuous decade we endured, a chapter that mercifully closed just three years ago. Three years into the aftermath of that chaotic era, they still can’t provide us with any concrete plans or proposals. Let alone the details.
One of my fascinations in this campaign is the governance of the LNP during its last term never gets a mention. An age of perpetual crisis. Do Labor not see the treasure trove of blunders they could use against Dutton, starting with Robodebt?
The recent ABC leaders’ debate was intended to be a pivotal moment, a chance for voters to discern who could project the gravitas of a prime minister. Instead, it seems like a display to determine whether Peter Dutton could ever embody the essence of a credible leader, but doubts linger.
We are now halfway into the campaign, and it has revealed an opposition leader still trying to convince those voters who feel worse off that they would fair better under him. Conversely, the Prime Minister could not answer all the questions about actions that might improve their lot.
Albanese’s more substantial leadership presence, particularly in dealing with an increasingly uncertain international environment, is reassuring. It contrasts with Dutton’s less Prime Ministerial demeanour and lack of popularity. Another Abbott?
He must urgently address the glaring gaps in his policies to stand any chance of besting Albanese. During the ABC debate, after 13 long years, he and his party are still wavering on the fundamental question: Does climate change actually exist?
Dutton’s proposed cuts to the public service have been met with disbelief, but rumours still exist that he will go ahead with them if he gains government.
When confronted about Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, he sidestepped the issues, claiming unfamiliarity with both leaders. Adding to the disarray, he had to concede a blunder when discussing reports of Chinese intentions to station military aircraft in Indonesia.
Such half-hearted performances are hardly the electrifying moments that would draw unsure voters to the polling booths in droves.
He found himself at a loss when articulating how he might navigate the economy more effectively than the Labor Party, unable to outline a credible strategy to combat inflation or reduce interest rates.
In stark contrast, the Prime Minister exuded a sense of optimism about the nation’s economic future. With a glimmer of hope, he highlighted a range of encouraging economic indicators – declining inflation, rising real wages, falling unemployment, and stabilising interest rates. Yet, he recognised that substantial challenges remained on the horizon despite these positive trends.
Neither leader could claim a victory of monumental proportions. Albanese did what he had to do, but no more. Dutton didn’t. Speers did all he could, forcing answers where possible and moving on when he couldn’t.
More thoughts:
1 I’m baffled by Dutton’s incompetence but scared he might win.
2 Many punters would have taken the extra three days over Easter and Anzac Day, giving them 10 days away from the campaign.
3 A draw is a loss for the LNP.
4 Dutton has had many offers for climate change briefings. He should take up as many as possible.
5 13 Days left for voting.
6 Whoever thought of Dutton’s son campaigning with his dad. He was doing it hard trying to save up for a deposit on a house without consulting “The bank of Mum and Dad.”
7 Negative gearing will be demolished in Labor’s next term. Now costing as much as “The pension.”
8 Channel 9 will host the third debate on Tuesday night, just hours after early voting begins.
10 Coalition appears to be losing support, but the latest Essential poll shows 47% of voters on the fence, making the final 12 days crucial.
My thought for the day
How can one man hold the future of the planet in his hand while the remaining leaders kowtow to him?
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Mr. Peter- ex policeman -Dutton has never done any one thing to distinguish himself as a potential leader. In fact his past racist and denials of Aborigine history and persecution is just the same as his being anti – everything and blocking anything progressive the Labor Party put forward to improve lives of Australians. He is the last person I would want to be in control. A Trump “Wannabe”.