PM pipes up on Islamist terror after avoiding Islam’s role in Western atrocities

Malcolm Turnbull talks about the latest attack in Kabul. The Prime Minister in question time in Canberra, yesterday:

Mr Speaker, this latest attack follows a fortnight where we have seen the evil scourge of Islamist terrorism continue to exact its murderous campaign against civilians around the world.

Actually calling it Islamist extremism? Turnbull must have been reading The Australian’s editorial, yesterday:

The Prime Minister and other political leaders often prefer nondescript terms such as violent extremism rather than calling out Islamic extremism. This represents a timidity that’s hard to fathom.

The Prime Minister on the Nine Network’s A Current Affairafter the suicide bombing in Manchester, May 23:

This was a vile, reprehensible attack on innocence … We stand with Britain as we always have, defying terrorism … We have a military commitment to the war against terror in the Middle East.

Turnbull talks Manchester on the ABC’s AM program, May 24:

We will not be cowed by terrorists, we will not be intimidated by them … It is vitally important that we destroy the terrorists in the Middle East.

What was missing? No references to the role of Islam … Columnist Peta Credlin in The Sunday Telegraph, Sunday:

Last week in the parliament, the Prime Minister condemned the terrorist attack in Manchester and while replete with words of solidarity, his multiple speeches all failed to mention the religion in whose name the killings had occurred. I checked his website and didn’t see it in the many related media transcripts either. Unlike our politicians, ordinary people don’t make this omission because they see themselves and their children in the faces of Manchester’s dead.

Now, it looks as if the Prime Minister has finally got the message. Turnbull in question time, yesterday:

I have written today to President Ghani, to express our deepest sympathies and to restate Australia’s resolve to assist and support Afghanistan in its fight against Islamist terrorism.

Let’s hope Turnbull keeps up this straight talk. The country needs it. Our editorial yesterday:

Voters seem to be demanding leadership on issues related to national values and the major parties are not providing it, which is reflected in a drift to the major parties. Malcolm Turnbull should fill this void. Mainstream voters don’t take too kindly to condescension.

And The Sydney Morning Herald has a Sydney property scoop, yesterday:

Revealed: GPO sold to overseas interests despite heritage qualms … Australia Post has sold one of Sydney’s most historic buildings, the GPO on Martin Place, to Singaporean billionaires …

The Herald is half right. The GPO deal has been revealed … exclusively by The Australian’s Ben Wilmot, May 3:

AusPost sells Sydney GPO in landmark deal … Singapore’s giant Far East Organization has swooped on the freehold of the historic Sydney GPO with a deal in train that will see the company own the bulk of the complex in a $150 million purchase.

Don’t worry, guys, we’re sure an actual scoop will come along eventually … The Marvelettes, 1961:

(Please Mr Postman, look and see) Oh yeah / (Is there a letter in your bag for me) Please, please, Mr Postman.