Michael McCormack, former leader of the National Party, had a surprising and emotional outburst before the Christmas break. Surprising in that rarely has he shown this level of energy, certainly not when he was National’s leader and on the back-bench he has barely made a contribution beyond regretting the defection of his mate Barnaby Joyce down the rabbit-hole of One Nation.
Mr McCormack was incensed that federal parliament had not been recalled following the Bondi shootings and he was particularly upset that Anthony Albanese had not initiated a national Royal Commission to complement and duplicate the Royal Commission set up by the New South Wales government: he was also enraged that new gun ownership regulations legislated in NSW, and probably to be adopted nationally, would impact unfairly on the activities of farmers – farmers and professional shooters will be restricted to 10 weapons but with a ban on automatic weapons that allow multiple shots without reloading, similar to those used by the alleged shooters at Bondi and gun licences will need to be renewed every two years rather than being perpetual licenses – poor farmers, how will they get by?
He may have been spurred into activity after Sussan Ley, the coalition’s prime ministerial hopeful, noted that Penny Wong, despite close scrutiny, had not been observed shedding a tear over the Bondi killings – evidently an inexcusable failing on the part of a female minister!
I got the impression that Mr Mc Cormack’s emotional tirade was not so much about Bondi, Royal Commissions or guns but rather it was about the fact that he, as a deposed former party leader, now sitting on the back-benches, was the only voice in the National Party available to speak out particularly as his leader, David Littleproud was completely silent on these issues: Mc Cormack may well have been echoing his former colleague Barnaby Joyce who had little faith in the current leadership of the National Party.
For the record, the New South Wales government have initiated a Royal Commission that will look into, among other matters:
- The nature, prevalence, and drivers of antisemitism in Australia leading up to the Bondi attack, including actions of governments, law enforcement, and broader society.
- An examination of Islamic extremism and neo-nazi ideology long with recommendations to strengthen counter terrorism systems.
Albanese has resisted political and emotive pressure to having a separate Royal Commission to that proposed by Premier Minns in New South Wales. He has noted that:
“There was no royal commission called by the Howard government after Port Arthur. There was no royal commission called by the Abbott government after the Lindt [Cafe] siege, there hasn’t been a royal commission held recently that has not had an extension of time. We know who the perpetrators are here … We know what the motivation is, that they are motivated by the evil ideology of ISIS and a perversion of Islam.”
Albanese has, alongside hate speech reforms and changes to gun laws, announced a review into federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies which will be led by former intelligence chief Dennis Richardson, and he has offered the co-operation of both the government and federal agencies with the NSW commission.
Those insisting on a separate federal Royal Commission say that it would not necessarily take years to conclude and that they could call on the appointed Commissioner to have a preliminary report by the end of April. That, of course is nonsense as the whole point of a Royal Commission is to be broad ranging, hear from all and sundry and probe into the dark corners that usually are hidden; you cannot expect quick fix responses and the Royal Commissioner would undoubtedly resist that sort of pressure.
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Seems about the only thing that Nationals and Coalition are fit for, tossing tantrums!
So much waste of time, money and resources on that lot over the years and definitely not fit for purpose as Barnaby Joyce demonstrates.
Mc Cormack is an un-Australian oaf, advocating excessive gun ownership with loose conditions and is a supporter of clear terrorism by such as Israel and the USA swinery in office. A Mc Cormack “Royal” commission could provide work for poverty hit Andrew Fitz-Bastard, known law lover. If B Joyce leaves something behind, it must really stink…however, he has not noticed the malodorous rosy rubbishheap.
I do enjoy your words, Phil.
Part of their role as ‘praetorian guard’ media strategy post any incident, event or news is to present with feigned & over the top outrage to blame and direct anger at the PM, Ministers, govt., supporters, woke and anything centrist….
In this case Atlas Koch* Heritage Project Esther blame it on Palestinians &/or Muslims, the centre and universities for ‘anti-semitism’ of the left (while same Heritage is mired in an anti-semitism scandal of its own in the US and *Atlas Koch’s CIS was behind Voice No campaign) .
Resonates with the NSDAP tactics late Weimar era in Germany vs the woke ‘cultural Marxism’ of the Frankfurt School, wink wink..
Blatantly, the usual bunch of opportunistic trolling Oz politicians have resorted to head-spinning gyrations whilst spewing confected outrage at Albo and fed Labor.
It diminishes Oz, but most of all them.
I believe ther should also be some examination in the NSW RC on extreme Zionist propaganda that might provoke anti-semitic responses. It suits the Netanyahu playbook to promulgate anti-semitism in his annihilation of Gaza
There is a bit of ‘be careful what you wish for’ in the call for a Royal Commission.
A deep probing not the security system in vetting the terrorists will show that both the immigration of the father was under the Howard government and the ASIO check to see if the son was being radicalised was under the Morrison governments.
The other issue is that in a protracted examination such as a Royal Commission, any decisions, recommendations are generally a long way off, and further, when we see the results of previous Royal Commissions, the recommendations are watered down to the point of almost ineffectiveness…. consider the Banking Royal Commission, the way the Catholic Church particularly has fought their responsibilities for the Child Abuse Royal Commission… I could go on and on with this, but I think there is an article on this site, from a few days back.
Bert, correct. There was a recent article which almost, but not quite, pointed to the futility of (recent) Royal Commissions based on the results. Governments of both political persuasions have shown little appetite for implementing recommendations. Most shamefully this Labor government appears unwilling to implement the recommendations of the Robodebt RC, flicking them to the gutless ICAC which was sabotaged by the Opposition, rather than strengthened by accepting amendments from Greens, Teals and Independents. While some have applauded the decisiveness of this year’s election result many of us long-time Labor supporters are disappointed that the mandate isn’t being used more decisively to right so many of the wrongs affecting we the people.
There seems to be general agreement that the Albanese move to a national Royal Commission, in place of NSW holding a state based RC, is a sensible move and the selection of Former High Court Justice the Hon Virginia Bell AC to serve as Commissioner has generally been applauded.
But the oddball who seems to be advising opposition leader Suss Ley has chosen this moment to tell her to have a little tanty and stamp her feet and say ‘it’s too little too late’ and ‘we need three Royal Commissioners not one’.
I have to say to Suss, I’ll give you the tip, there are those within the Liberal Party who are undermining your leadership and whether it’s coming from the Hastie camp or the Wilson camp [or even the Frydenberg camp] your days are numbered.
Terry, perhaps the 3 RC Ms Ley is demanding have something to do with numerology, to match the 3 “s” in her name?
Kim
I think you’re on to something !