At a loss for words

Who could forget newly promoted Luke Howarth, the Liberal member for Petrie, insisting he wanted to put a “positive spin” on homelessness. Picture: Gary Ramage

Who could forget newly promoted Luke Howarth, the Liberal member for Petrie, insisting he wanted to put a “positive spin” on homelessness last month as part of his new role as assistant housing minister?

“I want to put a positive spin on it as well and not just say Australia’s in a housing crisis when it affects a very, very small percentage of the population,” he told Hamish Macdonald on ABC Radio National’s RN Breakfast.

“I am stating the facts and I think that is important … that parts of homelessness have reduced over that 15-year period.”

Actually, the rate of homelessness has increased from 47.6 people per 10,000 Australians in 2011 to 49.8 people in 2016 according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. But facts aside, Strewth finds it curious that despite taxpayers forking out for public servants to write a transcript, it was never released publicly.

In answer to Senate questions on notice from Labor, Social Services Minister Anne Ruston said: “A transcript of the Assistant Minister for Community Housing, Homelessness and Community Services’ interview on ABC RN Breakfast on 9 July 2019 was provided to Assistant Minister Howarth’s office on 9 July 2019, with a cost of $292.25 (GST exclusive)”. Then where is it?

Howarth’s transcript page on the Department of Social Services website is empty and it was not distributed to his media mailing list. Including GST the total transcript cost was $321.48, which is more than the $300.55 single parents on Newstart receive each week.

Magna Katter moment

What’s worse: terrorism or legislation to ban cash payments over $10,000? According to rogue MP Bob Katter, the right for Australians to open-carry polymer should be enshrined in the Constitution. Hence why he’s not happy about the Morrison government’s proposed Currency (Restrictions on the Use of Cash) Bill 2019, which would make large cash payments to businesses illegal but not private sales. “The danger here to our freedom is greater than the danger to our lives through terrorism. Clearly there are a thousand reasons why people like to hide a bit of wealth and have access to cash.” Echoing Australia’s favourite fictional lawyer, Dennis Denuto, from The Castle, Katter said: “Are the government and authorities going to act responsibly? Yes, most of the time. All the time? No. All I see here is the undermining of the great principles of Magna Carta in the rule of law. Through insidious increments, ‘The means that is argued justifies the end.’ ” It’s justice. It’s law. It’s the vibe.

Ardern ardour

A fluffy foe has appeared on Scott Morrison’s Parliament House desk, care of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. “A little wager with the Australian Prime Minister before the rugby may or may not be why he now has this kiwi companion for the rest of the week,” Ardern wrote on Instagram, next to a snap of the stuffed kiwi bird in Canberra.

“Thanks for being a good sport Scott Morrison!”

New Zealand had a double win on Saturday at Eden Park, with the Wallabies going down 36-0 at the hands of the All Blacks in the Bledisloe Cup and the Wallaroos losing the Laurie O’Reilly Trophy 37-8 to the Black Ferns.

Things could have been worse for Morrison. In 2015, prime minister Malcolm Turnbull had to don an All Blacks tie in parliament after losing a bet to New Zealand’s prime minister at the time, John Key.

Jacinda Ardern’s “gift” to Scott Morrison. Picture: Instagram

Milking spill

“BREAKING NEWS: @TurnbullMalcolm WINS HIS FIRST POLL FOR A LONG TIME #spill”, came the tweet from the NT News exactly one year ago.

As part of Strewth’s trip down memory lane ahead of Saturday’s spillaversary, let’s go back to Turnbull’s post-partyroom-win (by seven votes) press conference:

Journalist: “Are you worried about another challenge against you and what do you say to the disloyalty of the cabinet ministers who voted against you?”

Turnbull: “Well, it’s a secret ballot, Sharri (Markson). Perhaps there are no secrets to you.”

Journalist: “What would you say to the overarching sentiment now that you are dead man walking?”

Turnbull: “I have to say that I can’t agree with you there and the results of the ballot demonstrate that.”

But the most memorable comments of the day came from new backbencher Peter Dutton. Having quit his Home Affairs post, the friendly bloke rebrand was under way. “It is good to be in front of the cameras where I can smile and maybe show a different side to what I show when I talk about border protection.” Anticipating things to come, Veterans Affairs Minister Darren Chester issued a cry for sanity to prevail: “I would simply say to my colleagues, the circus has to stop.”

Hope dies last!

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