Mike O’Connor: Crossed or closed, our parliament is a farce

In a state parliament where the standard of debate hovers between banality and unintended comedy, the boys and girls have dragged it down to a new low, writes Mike O’Connor.

If aliens had invaded our planet last week, they would have taken one look and departed for a distant galaxy with all haste, never to return.

Had they beamed themselves into state parliament, they would have witnessed one of the most cringe-inducing episodes ever to take place in that place as members, hurling viciousness and vitriol across the chamber, argued over whether a female politician had suggested women’s legs should be crossed or closed as a counter to the government’s well-documented maternity ward shortcomings.

Tawdry, bizarre, shabby, shameful, grubby? Take your pick.

In a parliament in which the standard of debate routinely hovers between banality and unintended comedy, the boys and girls managed to drag it down to a new low.

Well done.

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman in state parliament. Picture: X

LNP health and women spokeswoman Ros Bates. Picture: NewsWire/Glenn Campbell

Energy Minister Mick de Brenni might have been happy this circus unfolded because it distracted attention from an issue that has been bubbling away below the public’s radar for some time – the investigation into the massive explosion that ripped through the Callide power station three years ago, causing a huge drop in the state’s generation capacity and pushing up power bills.

While the cross-your-legs farce was being played out, the state government was running up a mountain of legal bills in the Federal Court in a bid to prevent any light being shed on the investigation into the accident.

Whatever it is the government wants to keep hidden from Queenslanders, it must have the potential to be politically damaging in an election year because it is doing everything in its power to prevent the public from finding out what happened and more to the point, why it happened.

Transparency, accountability? Not on this little patch of the planet, my intergalactic friends.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: NewsWire/Monique Harmer

Still, who are we to complain when as of August and courtesy of the Miles government, we all get to ride on the bus for 50c.

Would we be getting 50c rides if the government weren’t facing defeat in the October election? I wonder.

The opposition should come out with a counter-bid for our votes with a 25c ride offer, go all the way and make it free or perhaps announce a scheme by which we are all paid 50c to get on the bus.

Now there’s a vote-winner for you.

While the hair-pulling and tongue-poking was in full swing in state parliament, down in Canberra, Anthony Albanese was staging a performance of which Houdini would have been proud.

Defence Minister Richard Marles. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Martin Ollman

The Victoria Cross and associated medal of soldier Major Peter Badcoe, who was killed during the Vietnam War in 1967.

Being grilled on Australia’s support for the International Criminal Court’s move against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes, the Prime Minister said: “I got asked a question yesterday.

“I didn’t get asked. I got asked an obtuse question, ah, yesterday or the day before and today I make this point that there is no, ‘cos I assume you’re referring to the ICC which actually was signed up to of course, ah, not by my government but by the Howard government when Alexander Downer was foreign minister so it’s up to them I think to explain those decisions at that time.”

If, as the Prime Minister, you make a call then you must have the courage to defend it, not try to weasel your way out of it by blaming someone else, but this is politics Aussie-style where courage is in short supply.

There was no shortage of it, however, during the Vietnam War when the bravery of Australian soldier Dick Norden was finally recognised two years ago with a recommendation for the Victoria Cross.

Former Lieutenant Colonel George Hulse. Picture: AAP

Defence Minister Richard Marles, however, is still sitting on the recommendation.

The reason, according to former Lieutenant Colonel George Hulse, who fought alongside Norden and advanced his case, is because the government is planning to use the VC award to divert attention from its plan to strip medals from other soldiers.

“A Victoria Cross for Dick Norden would be a nationally popular thing to do, and would go down with loud applause, without any doubt,” he told The Australian.

“Stripping people of awards for Afghanistan will be met with huge controversy.

“So, you know, you get a good-cop, bad-cop thing happening.

“I just think they’ll use it for political gain, to sugar-coat something that’s going to be nasty for them.

“And in an election year, they want to be seen as being the good guys.”

More political bastardry.

How do these people sleep at night? Soundly, probably.