House of cards: How our politicians performed
After a turbulent year which included yet another poll-driven leadership coup, it’s time for report cards by federal political editor Renee Viellaris.
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ONE of the issues the Morrison Government needs to fight ahead of the next election is the vibe menacingly hanging over the Coalition.
Cabinet minister Kelly O’Dwyer was right when she bluntly told colleagues some voters view the party as homophobic, women-bullying, climate change deniers.
There is a battle on for the heart and soul of the Coalition, with some MPs clearly confused about what they stand for, with evidence of a political dysmorphic disorder.
The Coalition has failed to sell its achievements, and Morrison, a man with a lot to do and little time to do it, is making a number of announcements but failing to widely connect with the electorate.
In Queensland Malcolm Turnbull was not popular.
The former prime minister’s regular two-bob’s worth is not helping Morrison in one sense, but in another is also showing voters why many in the Liberal party room wanted him gone.
COALITION GOVERNMENT
OVERALL SCORE C
The Turnbull/Morrison governments have had some good solid policies but their messaging has been a continual failure. And, for some voters, Canberra has become little more than white noise as leadership coups and infighting consumed the Coalition.
SCOTT MORRISON B
WAS: Treasurer
NOW: Prime Minister
Morrison as treasurer steered Australia’s uninterrupted economic growth through good policies, tax cuts, plus a long-term vision for tax relief by announcing the 37 per cent tax bracket will be scrapped from 2024. He needs to remember to be prime ministerial.
JOSH FRYDENBERG B-
WAS: Environment and Energy Minister
NOW: Treasurer
Most of the Government’s economic vision was set in train by Morrison and Finance Minister Mathias Cormann. As Energy Minister, he did well trying to keep the party room in-line on the national energy guarantee – a trying and difficult task. Although he is a prolific worker, Frydenberg failed to outline a detailed climate change policy as Environment Minister.
MATHIAS CORMANN A-
WAS: Finance Minister, Leader of the Government in the Senate, Special Minister of State
NOW: Finance and Public Service Minister and Leader of Government in the Senate Cormann is one of the Coalition’s best assets. A hard worker across his finance brief and a diplomatic negotiator, Cormann has been a key reason why the Government has passed contentious legislation through the Senate.
MICHAEL MCCORMACK D+
WAS: Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport
NOW: Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
One of the nicest blokes in politics, McCormack cannot cut through or keep his team disciplined. Nationals are refusing to turn up to party room meetings, and McCormack lacks the authority to bring them into line when their comments distract from the Government’s overall message. His biggest problem is his inability to cut through on the multi-billions being spent on infrastructure.
BRIDGET MCKENZIE C
WAS: Minister for Rural Health, Sport and Regional Communications
NOW: Minister for Regional Services, Local Government and Decentralisation
McKenzie is still learning what it is to be a Cabinet minister but also the value of her own brand. She has failed to outline a clear decentralisation agenda, which could help drive jobs to the regions.
CHRISTOPHER PYNE B
WAS: Minister for Defence Industry and Leader of the House
NOW: Minister for Defence and Leader of the House
Pyne finally got the job he wanted – Defence Minister. As Defence Industry Minister he did a lot of heavy lifting communicating the record amount of investment in Defence. Pyne has to take responsibility for his part in destabilising the Government.
STEVEN CIOBO B+
WAS: Trade, Tourism and Investment Minister
NOW: Defence Industry Minister
Ciobo was never paid his proper dues as trade minister. A good negotiator who got on well with his overseas counterparts, he made significant inroads and got deals done that have set Australia on an economic growth trajectory.
MARISE PAYNE D+
WAS: Defence Minister
NOW: Foreign Minister
Payne failed to capitalise and explain to the Australian public the impressive work the Australian Defence Force has done in the Middle East fighting ISIS. She was also not alive to the fact – or failed to convince Cabinet colleagues – of the growing threat of China in the Pacific. As Foreign Minister, she will be less cocktail circuit (that is how her predecessor Julie Bishop treated the portfolio) and more focused on matters of substance.
SIMON BIRMINGHAM B
WAS: Education and Training Minister, Manager of Government Business in the Senate
NOW: Trade, Tourism and Investment Minister, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate
Birmingham, who was in Turnbull’s inner circle, is a solid performer who neutralised Labor’s attacks on universities. But he let the Catholic school funding matter get away from him and annoyed Nationals’ MPs who were worried about
CHRISTIAN PORTER A
WAS & IS: Attorney-General
Attorney-General Porter, a former prosecutor, has shown himself to be an A-grade Attorney-General, who will make tough decisions in a timely manner. If Porter can hold his seat, there will be discussions of him being a future leader of the Coalition.
PETER DUTTON B+
WAS: Home Affairs and Immigration and Boarder Protection Minister
NOW: Home Affairs
Heading the Home Affairs super-portfolio, Dutton has ensured security agencies work better together. Under Morrison and Dutton’s watch, the boats have stopped, all 17 detention centres Labor opened have closed (saving tens of millions of dollars) and 8000 kids have been removed from detention. Dutton needs to show his softer side.
MITCH FIFIELD D
WAS & IS: Communications Minister
Regarded as a dud by many of his own side, Fifield has failed to address the perception the NBN is plagued with problems and failed to intervene in legitimate issues when necessary. He remains in Cabinet because of his Victorian powerbase.
KELLY O’DWYER C+
WAS: Revenue and Financial Services, Women, and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service
NOW: Jobs, Industrial Relations and Women Minister
O’Dwyer is starting to come into her own but was widely blamed for former superannuation changes that annoyed the Coalition’s base. Colleagues regularly leaked about her but she is now stamping her authority as one of the more senior women in the Government.
MATT CANAVAN B+
WAS & IS: Resources and Northern Australia Minister
Canavan has transformed into a quasi National Party leader. A hard worker, Canavan is the best champion the resources industry could have. But he needs to do more work on developing northern Australia and has responsibility for the $5 billion Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility, which has been a flop.
MICHAELIA CASH C
WAS: Jobs and Innovation Minister
NOW: Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocation Minister
Cash has been unable to shake off the scandals that have engulfed her office and is a constant target for the Opposition. She is a hard worker but more often than not a distraction for the Government. It is unclear what her job is, given others also have responsibility for jobs and the economy.
KAREN ANDREWS C
WAS: Assistant Vocational and Skills Minister
NOW: Industry, Science and Technology Minister
Andrews has had a meteoric rise from the outer ministry into Cabinet. A former engineer, Andrews is no dummy but is known for her abrasive style and issues with staff.
DAN TEHAN B
WAS: Social Services Minister
NOW: Education Minister
Don’t let the country drawl fool you, Tehan is politically savvy and a consensus builder. He helped fix a funding deal with Catholic schools (it helps when the PM gives you more money to spend) and deserves congratulations on how he helped design the national redress scheme for survivors of sexual abuse.
GREG HUNT A
WAS & IS: Health Minister
Hunt has turned Health into a platform the Coalition now prides itself for. He has continually listed more lifesaving and life preserving drugs on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, has kept private health insurance premium increases to the lowest in about 17 years and helped deliver record funding for hospitals.
PAUL FLETCHER C-
WAS: Urban Infrastructure and Cities Minister
NOW: Families and Social Services Minister
Fletcher has the charisma of a robot. He is clearly having teething issues in his new portfolio and has demonstrated a tin ear when it comes to growing political problems. Morrison was forced to intervene after a public outcry over the cutting of funding to national charity Foodbank.
DAVID LITTLEPROUD C+
WAS & IS: Agriculture Minster
A favourite of Turnbull, Littleproud does not have the same close relationship with Morrison. He has competently navigated some tricky issues, such as live sheep exports, but has struggled to get traction on drought. Littleproud is a talent but needs more time.
MELISSA PRICE D
WAS: Assistant Minster Environment Minister
NOW: Environment Minister
Albeit a new minister, Price has caused too many dramas, including offending Pacific Island leaders for allegedly saying they were seeking Australian cash. Her office is ineffectual and anaemic – which is ultimately her responsibility – and she has shown no vision for an environment or climate change strategy.
ANGUS TAYLOR B-
WAS: Law Enforcement and Cybersecurity Minister
NOW: Energy Minister
Taylor has stepped up to a crucial portfolio and has done relatively well. He has shown a willingness to pick a fight with power companies and the Queensland Government, which is in the crosshairs for its state-owned generators. Taylor will need to increase his media presence ahead of the next election, which will in part be fought on energy and power bills.
NIGEL SCULLION B
WAS & IS: Indigenous Affairs
Scullion has chipped away on local indigenous projects and services. The delivery on the ground has been good, but overall indigenous people still face significant health, education and employment challenges.
FEDERAL LABOR ON TRACK WITH EXPERIENCED TEAM
LABOR’S performance has ranked a B, and while the polls show the party out front, it won’t be an easy ride.
It would be wrong to say Labor is on track to win the next election because of the Coalition’s constant woes. It has helped, but that does not give Bill Shorten his political dues. Shorten is an extremely effective politician with a good helping of “Teflon” Peter Beattie luck – nothing sticks. While most pundits expect Labor will sail into government, it won’t be easy (although likely).
Shorten is Labor’s biggest asset and weakness. He’s unpopular in internal polling, and Scott Morrison will try every day to exploit this, and force voters to remind them why they don’t. Shorten has an experienced team around him, and they will be put to great use during the next campaign. What the past few years has shown is that Shorten is a populist (who is unpopular), with a rising consensus that he’s not scared to pick a fight.
Some of Labor’s policies, like negative gearing changes and reforms to the imputation credit scheme, are a worry for some voters. These issues could come back to haunt Labor at the ballot box.
BILL SHORTEN B
Opposition Leader and indigenous affairs spokesman
One of the most effective opposition leaders in recent political history. His own side say there has been no luckier politician, but you make your own luck in politics. Shorten, on track to win the next election, has released contentious policies (negative gearing, franking credit and asylum seeker changes), which could haunt him at the next poll.
TANYA PLIBERSEK B
Deputy Opposition Leader, education, training and women spokeswoman
Plibersek, from the Left faction, is a key asset of Shorten, and generally liked by the electorate. She has managed to keep the heat on the Government on school funding.
PENNY WONG B
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate and foreign minister spokeswoman
Wong is one of Labor’s greatest assets. A strong media performer and viewed in the electorate as having integrity and being a no-nonsense politician.
CHRIS BOWEN C
Shadow treasurer
Regarded as a technocrat by his own side, Bowen should have had more political hits against the Government given he was a former treasurer. He appears concerned about some of the measures Labor is proposing to introduce given he will have control of the Budget if Shorten wins the next election.
TONY BURKE C+
Environment and water, citizenship and multiculturalism and arts spokesman and Manager of Opposition Business
A better overall party spokesman and tactician in the House of Representatives than an opposition shadow on his portfolios.
ANTHONY ALBANESE B
Infrastructure, transport, cities and regional development and tourism spokesman
A hard worker who knows his stuff. Albanese is an integral part of Labor’s frontbench, but is shut out of Shorten’s inner circle because of leadership aspirations.
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