The last few weeks has been an amazing period. In politics it is not just the imaginable that happens but the impact of the unimaginable which has infiltrated our Australian psyche. Who would have thought that Peter Dutton would think himself worthy of the Prime Ministership? A man without compassion towards asylum seekers, but overflowing with it when it comes to granting visas to foreign (white) au pair girls.
It was fortunate that it did not happen. Our previous PM, Mr Turnbull, now in NY City. No doubt glad to be away from the mess. He must have wondered what happened. The Government will not ‘sit’ till the 10th of September. I expect the fireworks to start all over again and predict there could well be another spill.
Liberal (Republican) female politicians are lining up with claims of bullying that made one of them even resign. A male punch drunk Politician urged females to ‘roll with the punches’. Last night an unscrupulous expert in insults and well-known shock jock media personality, urged women politicians to take a spoonful of cement and learn to ‘toughen up.’
The real truth of all that turmoil and personal fighting came finally through. Coyly at first but none the less, finally an honest revelation. First it was one politician and the next day another one. Both answered when asked about the turmoil and chaos, the claims of bullying etc. In essence, this is what they said.
“Our political system depends on fighting and personal battles. It is the Westminster system. The adversarial way of governing. Fighting each other is the very essence of parliamentary behaviour.” “We hold each other to account.”
Mix that with parliamentary privilege, unable to sue for libel or defamation, and you have the perfect mode for endless personal fighting and bullying. Seeking consensus and working together is an anomaly in the British system.
Last but not least, the urging of the extreme right to restrict immigration and only allow those that will hold-up our traditional Australian values. Did anyone see the irony that when the new Ministry was signed in by the Governor general, each and every one of the new ministers gave their signed allegiance not to Australia but to the Queen of England?
Tags: Australia, British, Liberal, Lucy Gichuhi, NYC, Peter Dutton, Prime Minister, Queen, Republicans, Westminster System
Oosterman Treats Blog 
September 4, 2018 at 2:02 am |
We live in a sad country.
LikeLiked by 2 people
September 4, 2018 at 3:23 am |
I don’t mind the sadness. It is this deep-seated fear and resistance to change and move forward that is so troubling this country. We have now a Prime Minister whose children are going to a private Baptist church school because he does not want his children to be influenced by ideas that differ from his own Pentecostal beliefs. In other words; the Public schools are not what he feels are suitable.
I could fill a book about it all.
LikeLiked by 2 people
September 4, 2018 at 4:05 am
That is why Australia is a sad country. The world itself is a sad place, political that is.
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 4, 2018 at 2:13 am |
Spot on, Gerard. Your writing shows an excellent knowledge about the political situation in our country, Australia. Yes, so far for us migrants, Australia still is our country of choice. In Australia you can see heaps of examples that multiculturalism can work if you work on it. I am curious what party the majority of people are going to vote for at the next election!
LikeLiked by 2 people
September 4, 2018 at 3:31 am |
It was the choice of my parents before all else. To be honest, Uta. If I lived in Europe I am not sure of that choice today.
The calibre of our politicians is terrible. How do they get there? I mean Dutton, Scott Morrison, Pyne, Abbot and most others. Where are the good Liberal women? At least the Labor party has almost 50% women which I think will get them over the line next time around.
An old standby line which I keep thinking about is; ‘at least Australia has plenty of sun and the rump- steaks are big and juicy’.
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 4, 2018 at 3:32 am |
Sad indeed. Heaps of “successful” multiculturalism no doubt scoring a hit with the racist point scoring politicians of late. If that’s not enough, backed up by Murdoch and the stream of shock joks.
The widowed black arm band wearing and black dress code by some EU migrants raised a few eyebrows in the 40’s – 60’s. It included arranged marriages, women escorted on dates by brothers etc. Not a lot different to Muslim traditions. Those habits petered out and the people blended in beautifully enriching Australia. I am certain given a chance that the Muslims will also blend in.
What party will the majority vote for ? A drovers dog can win the next election !
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 4, 2018 at 4:10 am |
The hope is still with people. There is a phenomenon whereby democracy today seems to be going off at a strange tangent.
This is going on world-wide. The US by and large like Australia, have a population with good intent but in Government it goes all lopsided and misses the aspirations and will of good people.
Is it some kind of voodoo?
We have a Prime Minster who seemingly suffers from an empathy by-pass and keeps over a hundred children in endless detention while psychiatrists and health experts keep saying the children, after five years in detention, suffer from severe mental illness and are withdrawing into a catatonic state of withdrawing from life.
Yet this PM prances about in his Pentecostal church and keeps Hallelujayng like a born again dervish.
Going shopping at Aldi used to give relief but now the honey is adulterated. Where can one go?
LikeLiked by 2 people
September 4, 2018 at 3:37 am |
Sounds like the USA. Most politicians are crazed and in it for themselves and to help their buddies.
LikeLiked by 3 people
September 4, 2018 at 4:14 am |
Yes, it is so schizo. The Stormy Daniels’ of today gives me hope for the US. She is quite a woman and not at all of what I thought about her.
LikeLiked by 3 people
September 4, 2018 at 5:13 am
I saw a pic of her without makeup and she looked really good. She is better without makeup.
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 4, 2018 at 5:32 am
She is taking on (2 minute) Trump and some say she might well be the catalyst of his downfall.
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 4, 2018 at 6:32 am |
Sure makes ya proud to be an Aussie, mate!
On another topic entirely, following your glowing review, I am now the proud owner of a Dyson stick vacuum. It sure is a powerful little sucker!
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 4, 2018 at 7:15 am |
Yes, Yvonne.
We don’t have as yet the Dyson and use the hand-held Hoover ‘Freedom.’ A great job it does and I like looking at the amount of dust is sucks up while contemplating The Government.
As for being a true Aussie. How I longed for that during those decades past.
Australians, the really true ones, should perhaps start feeling uncomfortable about their country, its emptiness and silly affluent meaninglessness. It needs to ditch the resulting ageing offspring of those neat private school aficionados whose drought stricken brains did go no further than getting a law degree or a police badge and became part of the continuing political desert scape.
We are witnessing a terrible decline in our human standards as nurtured by the aforementioned private school cretins who seem to believe that installing fear for anything foreign is the way forward.
LikeLike
September 4, 2018 at 7:25 pm |
I sometimes wonder what the world will look like in another 25 years. Or maybe sooner than that. We in the US are governed by the unimaginable as well, as you know. Keep making your pancakes and giving treats to Milo. It will probably come out OK in the end.
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 4, 2018 at 10:26 pm |
Yes, Kayti. There is so much in pancakes making. I had to change to jam and strawberries for a new experience. A big scandal has hit Australia. The honey from supermarkets have been found to be adulterated. The Chinese are rumoured to be involved!
German scientists are feverishly looking for answers and what the additives in the honey might be.
Share prices of honey producing emporiums have nosedived and the sky is darkened again by the falling bodies of investors hurling themselves from rooftops. They have lost fortunes.
In the meantime, the daffodils are sunning themselves as always and the alyssums sweet smelling perfuming near the front door.
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 4, 2018 at 8:35 pm |
And to think I originally thought of emigrating to Australia.
LikeLiked by 1 person
September 4, 2018 at 10:29 pm |
We sometimes are thinking of NZ. They, the New Zealanders have a lot going for them.
They have on several occasions offered to take 150 refugees from Nauru which Dutton refused. The torture has to continue.
LikeLike
September 4, 2018 at 11:15 pm |
I find things scary and sad in the world right now. And countries that should be making a positive difference don’t seem to be doing the right things. 😦
Great post, Gerard!
(((HUGS))) to you, Helvi, and Milo!
LikeLike
September 5, 2018 at 6:40 am |
No day for doom and gloom. Happy Birthday Carolyn!
I am wearing a special spaghetti hat and right now am toasting you with a glass of wine.
Hugs.. From Gerard and Helvi
LikeLike