Icy reaction to leader

Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull. Picture: AAP

Across the ditch in New Zealand there’s no way to misinterpret the polls. National Party leader Simon Bridges’ personal popularly fell to a dire 4.2 per cent in the preferred prime minister rating in this week’s Newshub-Reid Research poll. And that’s after he stood up in parliament and screamed the word “slushies” at government ministers. The convoluted context is the NZ Department of Corrections spent $NZ1 million ($954,000) on slushy machines — or as we call them, Slurpees — to cool tension among inmates during last year’s heatwave. Here is Bridges’ spray in its full glory: “What has the government delivered? Nothing. Oh, slushies. (Deputy Labour Leader) Kelvin Davis says 193 slushy machines, at nearly $6000 each. Well, (Finance Minister) Grant Robertson drank them all.” It’s hardly the most divisive recent comment from a Kiwi politician. (That honour goes to Greens MP Julie Anne Genter, who tweeted yesterday: “The climate crisis is the biggest challenge of our time. It’s our generation’s WWII.”) Asked why voters don’t like him, Bridges said: “I think it’s like a rugby team, you need much more than a star player.” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s popularity is up 7.2 percentage points to 49 per cent, and 72.5 per cent of people say she’s performing well (her best result).

Craving recognition

If you ask Malcolm Turnbull, he’ll tell you a referendum on indigenous recognition was his idea and Scott Morrison is merely copying him. Or so Strewth hears. He wouldn’t go on the record to confirm whether he invented the referendum road map to recognition. As Coalition MPs sulk over not being consulted, one backbencher tells Strewth the unexpected election win may play havoc with any referendum plans. The government will bring on a referendum only if it’s confident it will pass. And how will it know? The polls. The Coalition MP hints that colleagues may use the battered reputation of the polls (currently in hibernation) to question the support a public vote might get. FYI, a 2015 Newspoll found 63 per cent of voters back constitutional change.

Unwelcome boos

Meanwhile in the conservative world of fine arts, Strewth roving reporter Ashleigh Wilson, also known as the arts editor of this newspaper, informs us that someone booed the Welcome to Country on Tuesday night at an Opera Australia performance of Anna Bolena. “First I’ve heard of that happening at an arts event anywhere,” Wilson notes. “Opera audiences are often vocal but usually they pick the moment a little better.” Opera Australia says it’s disappointed by the booing, tweeting that the company continues to “support and recognise the importance of the Welcome to Country”.

Right on

Was Liberal senator James Paterson emulating George Brandis this week on ABC 774 Melbourne? He stopped just short of declaring people have a right to be polygamists.

Rafael Epstein: “Let’s just say Israel Folau wanted to keep on putting on social media, we should all become polygamists and actually more people need to do that. And that’s the only way to be in the world. Would we still be sticking up for him?”

Paterson: “I don't think polygamy is a great idea. But if you want to advocate polygamy and try and convince other people that it’s a great way of life, well, knock yourself out. This is a free country.”

Feed the dog

Barry the Guide Dog is available for donations in the Canberra office of Queensland Liberal Senator James McGrath.

Queensland Liberal senator James McGrath has a simple new rule in his Canberra office: If you want a meeting, the puppy gets some money. The pooch in question is a statue of Barry the Guide Dog, complete with coin hole, named after his previous guardian, former LNP senator Barry O’Sullivan. McGrath tells Strewth: “At the start of the (last) sitting week, a Guide Dogs Australia representatives gently emptied Barry in a delicate procedure. Barry currently is sadly empty, but will be gratefully accepting donations from anyone who chooses to support this great cause, meeting or not. Including other senators and even journalists. Especially journalists and senators.” Hear hear!

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