Piers Akerman: Scott Morrison has to distance himself from Turnbull
JUST over three weeks into the job and Scott Morrison has given a description of how he wishes to lead the nation but is yet to demonstrate that he has the particular brand of courage that marks true leadership, Piers Akerman writes.
Opinion
Don't miss out on the headlines from Opinion. Followed categories will be added to My News.
SCOTT Morrison has said he will “take charge” just like US General Stormin’ Norman Schwarzkopf did during the Gulf War.
Let’s hope he wasn’t just reading a line fed to him by some media-manipulating flack but has actually spent some time studying and thinking on the illustrious general’s career.
General Schwarzkopf was a man of enormous breadth and depth with a clear understanding of the trials of military leadership.
We haven’t produced a truly outstanding leader to match him in skills and compassion in our defence forces since General Sir John Monash. Tellingly, both giants led coalitions of allied forces to victory.
Of the many Schwarzkopf quotes contained in the books and essays written about the general, one of my favourites is this: “True courage is being afraid, and going ahead and doing your job.”
Simple, true, but it exemplifies such a basic character trait of those we think of as heroes, particularly in the military services but also those who put their lives on the line in the course of their duty as police or firemen (and women), and unfortunately today, those who have to deal with the increasing numbers of drug-crazed psychotics in emergency rooms.
Just over three weeks into the job and Morrison has given a broad brush description of the manner in which he wishes to lead the nation but he is yet to demonstrate that he has the particular brand of courage that marks true leadership.
Distressingly, he has not put sufficient distance between himself and the policies that led to his predecessor’s demise and nor has he indicated that he will give the rats in the Liberal ranks the overdue heave-ho.
Given Malcolm Turnbull’s execrable behaviour in abruptly exiting Parliament, leaving the government on a knife-edge and his own constituents in the lurch, Morrison has been far too generous in his praise for his former leader.
Turnbull’s destructive behaviour makes the exits of Labor’s fallen leaders Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd look quite honourable.
In texting former colleagues and urging them to refer a weak question of Peter Dutton’s eligibility to sit in Parliament to the High Court after spending weeks defending him, Turnbull neatly demonstrated the disloyalty that has been the hallmark of his political career.
However, and most fortuitously, this pig’s rear of a person has presented Morrison and the voters of Wentworth with a marvellous opportunity to elect a man of known values and principles in the newly selected Liberal candidate Dave Sharma.
That the lead-up to Sharma’s preselection was messy was largely the fault of the so-called progressives who control the NSW Liberal Party and who, with the backing of the ousted Turnbull, blocked attempts at democratic reform championed by the last Liberal prime minister to show leadership, Tony Abbott.
The influence of the lobbyist Michael Photios and his current wife, Kristina, on the Liberal Party cannot be underestimated and though it is probably not as great as Photios boasts, Morrison should ensure that no project involving the Machiavellian Photios is ever entertained by anyone associated with his office or that of any of those in his bloated cabinet.
MORE FROM PIERS AKERMAN
‘MALCOLM, YOU LEFT THE LIBERAL PARTY IN RUINS’
‘IF YOU DON’T BACK TRUMP, YOU’RE THE PROBLEM’
Sharma comes untainted to the Liberals and Wentworth and he was unquestionably the best candidate for the seat from those seeking preselection and is equally undoubtedly the best person among those whose have permitted their names to be bandied about as potential candidates.
While best known as a former diplomat with many creditable achievements — the youngest ever Australian ambassador to Israel, with an outstanding record as a peacemaker in the Bougainville conflict which bedevilled the government of Papua New Guinea — he also is a key member of one of the most successful initiatives bringing Israelis and Palestinians, Jews, Muslims and members of other faiths together in the Middle East and also Australia.
This Australian-Israeli initiative, Project Rozana, is actively building bridges to a better understanding between Israelis and Palestinians through healthcare.
Against the background of the Palestinian Authority’s aggressive non-normalisation policy which has seen Palestinians punished for having any contact with Israelis (sporting, social, cultural, all are forbidden), Project Rozana oversees a humanisation process through day-to-day healthcare interactions, raising funds for the transport and treatment of Palestinian children from the West Bank and Gaza in Israeli hospitals.
The project has now won support from the US and Canada as well and is seen as a beacon of hope for those attempting to bring young people together to counter the active demonisation of Israelis and other non-Muslims by the various factions vying for influence under the undemocratic PA regime.
With such an outstanding background, Sharma would be an asset to any party in government but particularly the Liberal Party with its warring tribes.
Contrast his record with those of the timeservers supported by the Photios machine and the Liberal Party’s fixers, or place his achievements alongside those of the other putative Wentworth candidates, and thoughtful constituents will count themselves lucky he has offered to serve them.
Should Sharma prevail at the October 20 by-election, Morrison, too, should avail himself of the benefits of the former businessman and diplomat’s skills and seek his opinion.
If the past three weeks provide any guide to the calibre of advisers Morrison is drawing upon, he needs someone whose feet are more solidly connected to the ground and who is yet to succumb to the Canberra stupor.
Sharma is a fresh breeze.
Let him be the catalyst the country needs to return to normality.