Federal election 2016: Opinion - AFP raids not a good look for Malcolm Turnbull
DENNIS ATKINS: The political import of the AFP raids on the homes and offices of senior ALP politicians is that it looks like a government is using the police to chase its enemies.
Analysis
Don't miss out on the headlines from Analysis. Followed categories will be added to My News.
FOR a campaign that was starting to feel like it was about nothing, this 2016 outing is getting some very decorous adornments.
To say this is extraordinary is like saying Clive Palmer spends a lot of time in court.
First, the raids themselves. There are, in the course of politics, too many leaks to count and a sizeable number are pinpointed by those with an advantage to gain in doing so.
They’ll cry the leak shows a government unable to keep its own secrets, at war with itself or just so on the nose with bureaucrats they can’t stand what’s happening.
Sometimes the opposition will say the leak should be investigated - especially if they think an inquiry might embarrass the government, which is often the case if it’s a national security or economic policy leak.
Other times, the government will launch a leak inquiry because they want to find out what’s going on or frighten people into not leaking any more.
Usually, leak inquiries go nowhere (to understand why this is so, please type leak inquiry and Yes, Minister into YouTube) and they all but never end up with a raid on a politician’s office.
The politician’s office is something of a protected zone - not quite like the sanctuary of a church but not far off.
So for the AFP to raid the offices of Labor’s former communications minister Stephen Conroy, the National Broadband Network and a Labor staffer who works on communications policy is remarkable to say the least.
It appears these inquiries stem from leaks that occurred while Malcolm Turnbull was Communications Minister last year.
The political import of this is that it looks like a government with something to hide is using the police to chase its enemies. Not a good look.
Maiden: Albo’s biggest call of 2025 hangs in the (bank) balance
The Coalition is putting its money on Labor going all out to avoid having to bringing down another Budget, writes Samantha Maiden.
Albo should be wary of Musk’s next move
Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, is not afraid of trolling heads of state, as European leaders are currently finding out. It could be Anthony Albanese’s turn next, writes Julie Cross.