Chance for Turnbull to show he’s the right man

MANUS Island, Malcolm Turnbull, the election, Anzac Day, Port Arthur, Parramatta Eels. Just some of the people and issues that have Ray Hadley talking.

1 THE Papua New Guinea Supreme Court decision that the Manus Island detention centre is illegal provides an opportunity for Malcolm Turnbull to show he is really tough when it comes to protecting our borders. Conservatives have been greatly concerned since Mr Turnbull replaced Tony Abbott. How he handles this situation and whether he is as solid as his ­immigration minister Peter Dutton could go a long way to showing LNP supporters that he is the right man to lead them.

2 Given that the PM is also a little left of his party on climate change, this latest proposal by Bill Shorten on a possible carbon tax is another chance for him to show he’s holding firm.

3 I’ve been heartened in recent times by the increased sentences for paedophiles in NSW. Unfortunately there’s no good news coming from WA, where grubby paedophile Peter Anthony Lewsam had his sentence reduced from 16 to 12 years by the Court of Appeal. Those learned judges decided it wasn’t in line with normal sentencing. Neither were his crimes. He pleaded guilty to 125 offences against very young children. This depraved low life should die in jail.

4 NSW and federal counter-­terrorism police have done an outstanding job in putting four men before courts over the assassination of NSW Police employee Curtis Cheng, but the worrying aspect is police say more people might be ­involved in the murder plot.

5 I had a wonderful Anzac Day on air speaking to a couple of magnificent veterans from World War II and a serving member of the ADF in Iraq. All gave a great insight into what they confronted and still confront. Len Bence signed up to fly bombers as an 18-year-old and before he was 21 was completing missions over Europe. He presented as a remarkable man totally unaware of the great respect and affection we have for men like him.

6 I’m hoping in the next few days we’ll have a clear picture of what constitutes a formal vote under the new Senate voting rules. All week we’ve been bombarded with ads from the Electoral Commission telling us we have to number 1 to 6 above the line or 1 to 12 below the line. But when you read the Act it suggests a vote for just one candidate above the line is a formal vote.

7 For a number of years I’ve been calling on the federal government to start targeting doctors who seem to have a carefree approach to issuing documents that result in their patients getting Centrelink payments. Now we’re told people on the dole are not actively seeking work because their doctors say they are not well enough.

8 This week marked 20 years since 35 people lost their lives at the hands of Martin Bryant in Port Arthur. One of the blackest days in our history and a day that should never be forgotten.

9 Roosters coach Trent Robinson will be hoping his team’s season starts this weekend against Newcastle. Robinson has a remarkable record since coming to the club in 2013 but his outburst after the loss to St George Illawarra was for one reason — to take pressure off his team after winning just one from eight.

10 Long-suffering Parramatta fans will finally be put out of their misery next week. The fine will be massive for salary cap rorts and the points deducted will be significant.