Keep calm and carry on – it’s Scott Morrison’s only way

Scott Morrison was back on message in parliament on Wednesday. Picture: Gary Ramage

Scott Morrison is in trouble. For someone who doesn’t hold a hose, he’s surrounded by grassfires in one of the most febrile environments in decades.

Almost two years of the Covid-19 crisis have disrupted and fractured politics and parliament as never before.

Added to the once-in-100-year conditions, there is the annual agitation of the pre-Christmas parliamentary sitting and the once in three-year fever of a looming election. But the Coalition is not entirely beyond redemption, as long as the Prime Minister remains calm.

Despite the obvious damage and dangers to the Coalition, Morrison’s challenge is to remain patient, manage the individual problems and provide a reassuring face that can hold the political line, thin as it may be, so that things don’t get worse before his colleagues and the tired public head off to a Christmas break.

After a scratchy beginning to parliament this week, with Coalition senators voting against the government and MPs threatening to do so as Labor attacked Morrison’s credibility, Wednesday was a more controlled response.

Morrison moved on to matters of substance — religious freedom proposals and terrorism declarations — sought to pacify rebels and fired back, accusing Anthony Albanese of being “weak and sneaky”.

Provided there is at least no irredeemable political damage done in the next 10 days, there can be a recovery for the Coalition and a contest next year when the public can make an assessment of the political choices beyond fear and fire.

All of the challenges are clearly taking a toll on Morrison, the Coalition’s unity, Liberal Party standing in the polls, parliamentary process, public expectations and MPs’ nerves.

As a PM who must call an election within five months at most, Morrison faces daily tests from a concerted, cynical and successful personal attack from the Opposition Leader, a co-ordinated pile-on from Labor premiers, division and rebellion from his senators and MPs, demands for deals from crossbenchers and Coalition turncoats, and a lack of preparation for the 2022 poll.

On Wednesday, he was back on message, telling parliament about “saving 30,000 lives from Covid”, global leadership in vaccination rates and economic recovery, as well as priority for national security.

Morrison did not shout or bluster but accused Albanese of being “all insults and no ideas” as he sought to shift from a divided defensive position to cohesive attack.

Albanese is benefiting from the parliamentary sittings.

For him, five more sitting days for 2021 will be five more opportunities to further Labor’s campaign on Morrison’s credibility and veracity.