Editor’s view: Minister caught out, but joke is on

As state and federal politicians used the plight of Diggers awaiting an exemption to play ‘gotcha’ games at media conferences and on social media, the rest of us were wondering why we can’t expect more from our politicians.

DOES anyone else feel like we are being governed by a bunch of preschoolers – despite the fact we are living through a very real national emergency?

Yesterday was a good example, as state and federal politicians played a game of “I know you are, but what am I?” over the exclusive revelation in The Courier-Mail that Diggers sent to Afghanistan to rescue refugees from the Taliban were still waiting for Queensland Health to grant a formal exemption for them to return home.

First up was state Health Minister Yvette D’Ath, who accused the federal government of playing “cheap politics” over the issue – and used as evidence the “fact” that she had tried less than two hours earlier to call and text federal Defence Minister Peter Dutton to talk through the issue, and that – rude! – she had not yet heard back.

Mr Dutton (who was not at Ms D’Ath’s press conference) instantly took to Twitter – Twitter! – to assure the breathless voting public that: “Yvette D’Ath’s comment this morning that she called and or texted me is untrue. I have not had any contact from her.”

Ms D’Ath hit back (it was getting exciting!) by showing the reporters and photographers who were at the press conference her phone history (at least once she found her mobile: “Who has my phone?” she asked her staffers). And yes indeed, her call history showed she had: “Called Peter Dutton at 8.19 … sent Peter Dutton a text at 8.21 – can he please call me? I’ve had no response.”

That rock-solid evidence prompted Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick (also not at the press conference) to quickly fire up his own Twitter account and ask the echo chamber via a hilarious emoji: “Who do you believe?”

Surely these people have better things to do with their time than deliver live commentary on their social media platforms of press conferences by other ministers?

But there’s a twist! As quickly pointed out – on Twitter! – by the Federal Minister for Employment Stuart Robert, it turns out the number Minister D’Ath had in her phone for Mr Dutton was actually wrong – and so the Defence Minister had never received the Health Minister’s phone call or text.

(And let’s just take a little breath here before we return to this exciting narrative. Of all the concerning revelations yesterday, perhaps the most worrying is that a senior member of the state government who represents a state electorate in Brisbane’s outer north has never before phoned the top-ranking Queenslander in the federal cabinet, who also represents a federal electorate in Brisbane’s outer north. Anyway, putting that aside, let’s return to the story.)

Don’t worry, though. Fortunately taxpayers fund battalions of hardworking staffers to solve everyday problems for our ministers. And they sprung into action, finding Minister Dutton’s real number and connecting the two so they could have what we can only assume was a very mature discussion about the detail of the Defence Force quarantine exemption delays.

Phew! And thank goodness for Twitter. How could we possibly hope our politicians would govern this great nation of ours without it?

Minister D’Ath said yesterday that “the people of Queensland expect a lot more” when it comes to the behaviour of federal politicians in this time of national crisis.

We could not agree more, minister – but that goes for the entire lot of you.

STATE’S GRAND FINAL WIN WELCOME

WE welcome with excitement the news that this year’s NRL Grand Final will be held at Suncorp Stadium – and congratulate all of those involved in the negotiations.

Despite Suncorp being the only likely venue because of the ongoing lockdown in Sydney, things were still a bit shaky in recent days – with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk seriously concerned about the political optics of paying for a football game after the backlash over the NRL wags flight debacle.

But well done to the Premier and her government for moving on from that, and taking the advice we laid out in this column a week ago: that footy-loving Queenslanders are quite capable of being both angry at their politicians and excited about a home Grand Final.

The government also appears to have struck a decent deal for taxpayers, with $4.6 million being paid directly to the NRL for an estimated return of $19 million to the state’s economy. Well done.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Chris Jones, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details are available at www.couriermail.com.au/help/contact-us