Strewth: Annual harmony

Harmony Day has a knack for bringing out a certain magic in Australian politics.

Eric Abetz and the Tasmanian chorus. Picture: Sam Rosewarne

Harmony Day has a knack for bringing out a certain magic in Australian politics. In 2014 it was Tony Abbott in parliament, assuming the role of news-breaker: “I would like to inform the house that new and credible information has come to light in relation to the search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.” In 2013 it was Simon Crean blowing himself up. Yesterday it was Malcolm Turnbull’s turn, declaring, “The time for playing games is over.” This is surely as rock solid as when Decca’s Dick Rowe listened to a young band called the Beatles and informed their manager, “Guitar groups are on their way out, Mr Epstein.”

Eric in the sunshine

Yesterday at least got Eric Abetz out into the Hobart sunshine. Backed by some others from the “hugely energised” Tasmanian Liberal team (Amanda-Sue Markham, David Bushby, Marcus Allan and Jonathon Duniam), Abetz delivered something that looked pleasingly like a scene out of a musical. And as he spoke, the Tveeder captioning service fumbled amusingly: “If need be the PM is willing to go to a delusion election and he has the full support of his whole Tasmanian team ...”

MT v DD

With the likelihood of a double dissolution growing, human information geyser Stephen Murray has shared this nugget from The Sydney Morning Herald on April 10, 1974: “A surprise High Court challenge has created fresh uncertainty about plans for a May 18 election for both houses of federal parliament. A Sydney academic lawyer, Mr P Paterson, is seeking an injunction preventing the government from holding a general election on present boundaries. He and a student, Mr M Turnbull, will proceed if the government goes ahead with a double dissolution.” Alas there were similar cases at the time, and the High Court ended up taking up another.

May day wrong call

Treasurer Scott Morrison was either in the dark or keeping his powder drier than a Methodist camp in the Sahara yesterday when he spoke with Ray Hadley:

Moz: “We’re due to come back on the 10th I think it is.”

Hadley: “It might be the 3rd! ...”

Morrison: “May 10! May 10!”

Hadley: “I know you’re not going to tell me but I just have this sneaking suspicion that we’re going to get a budget a bit earlier when we thought.”

Morrison: “We’re preparing for May 10, Ray. I can’t be clearer.”

The PM was, though.

Cutting from below

There was a certain genital theme yesterday. Here’s Labor’s Chris Bowen: “The Treasurer has been completely emasculated ...” Chris, please. And here’s Ross Cameron (former Lib MP turned talking head and legendary tweeter) on Sky News yesterday opining on Glenn Lazarus: “I regard him as an emasculated lump of lard who cannot make a decision to leave one room and enter another without his wife’s permission.” Ball’s in the Brick’s court.

Queue takes the pee

Visiting the Australian War Memorial on the weekend, a Strewth field agent took their kids to Poppy’s, the cafe attached to the AWM. The queue was long and slow, but it did include the bonus of ingredient of AWM director Brendan Nelson (in a cap bearing the words “Minister for Defence”, no less). There with a small group, Nelson was not pleased with the service and took photos of the queue, loudly telling patrons, “There has to be a better way.” He quickly explained that the AWM was not responsible for running the cafe. Fun chats this week, we guess. (The memorial, says our agent, was outstanding.)

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