Opinion: Our politicians turn on the waterworks when it suits them

Our political leaders should receive an Oscar for Best Drama after their performances in State Parliament last week. But where are the tears for these issues, asks Mike O’Connor.

The tears have stopped flowing, the last sniff has been sniffled, the wavering voices are silent, the sodden tissues have been binned and the echoes of self-congratulation have faded.

If ever an exercise in political theatre was deserving of an Oscar for Best Drama, then it was last week’s debate on voluntary assisted dying (VAD) legislation as members from all shades of politics from the Premier down took to their feet to recount their experiences of loved ones who had endured terminal illness and whose sufferings would have been lessened by VAD.

The last time that many tears were shed in our Legislative Assembly was when they raised the prices in the Members’ Bar.

I’m not suggesting for a moment that any of the speakers were lacking in sincerity, although there may be those who might think that there are some things best kept between family and friends rather than shared with the world on a political stage.

What the honourable members did show, however, was that if they felt strongly enough about an issue then their conscience demanded that they state their case and vote accordingly for it was, after all, a conscience vote.

The Queensland Parliament following voting on the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill on September 16, 2021. Picture: David Clark

How strange it is then, that when other issues that in a wider sense are far more pressing present themselves, then the tissues remain in their boxes and government members glued to their seats. Are there tears being shed for people trapped outside Queensland, for the people barred from farewelling dying relatives and from accessing critical medical treatment? Where are the tears for the people whose lives and livelihoods have been destroyed by ­politically inspired lockdowns, border closures and secret “health advice?”

Nary a sign of a tear shed. Not so much as a moist eye to be seen. If so conscience-driven they be, surely those on the Labor Party benches must hear a small voice whispering to them that these things are morally wrong.

When they hear that parents are to be denied access to the academic performance of the schools for which they pay because the unions don’t like it, what does their conscience say?

When every decision that involves the expenditure of taxpayers’ money is cloaked in the black velvet cloak of ­secrecy and all questions waved away with claims of “commercial in confidence” what does their conscience say?

When the Office of the Integrity Commissioner complains that the ­Public Service Commissioner is interfering in the performance of its duties and that laptops and mobiles phones have been seized from its office, forcing it to complain to the Crime and Corruption Commission, what does their conscience say?

The Queensland Parliament following voting on the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill on September 16, 2021. Picture: David Clark

Why, the whispering voice of their conscience might ask, would anyone want to prevent the Integrity Commission from carrying out its role?

The same small voice might raise concerns about the activities of the Queensland Building and Construction Commission, from which almost 30 employees, including Commissioner Brett Bassett, a deputy commissioner, three assistant commissioners and 10 directors have resigned. One of those to resign, licensing services manager Graham Easterby, said he left because “there has been conflicts of interest for personal gain, requiring my team and I to do licensing action against their competitors … and on occasions request my staff to make decisions to exercise powers that do not exist under the Act.’’

Anyone’s conscience moved to ask Public Works Minister and former Queensland Council of Trade Unions campaign director just what is going on at what some in the building industry are describing as a union-run shambles and which is supposed to be responsible for the maintenance of building standards and remedying defective building work?

Any tears shed for those people forced to look for other work because a critically important government body has become dysfunctional and a power unto itself? Not a one.

It’s all very worthy to shed a tear and share the grief you have suffered on the death of a loved one and passionately declare your support for a cause such as VAD, flawed though I think that legislation to be.

Where, however, is that same conscience-driven passion, emotion and commitment to doing what you believe to be the right thing when it comes to other issues that call into question the integrity, propriety and morality of the government in which you serve?

There’s no shortage of Queenslanders reduced to tears, not by VAD legislation, but by the involuntary death of their freedoms and livelihoods.