Commission impossible: having your cake, eating it, and blaming Bill along the way
Scott Morrison and Kelly O’Dwyer at their press conference yesterday:
Journalist: In 2016 you said that Bill Shorten’s call for a royal commission was a populist whinge. On April 4 this year, you said the issues of the royal commission were not things that the government was not aware of, and then on Wednesday you said the evidence was deeply disturbing. Isn’t it time that you admitted that you got it wrong and to apologise to the Australian people for …
Morrison: I blame Bill Shorten for that. Bill Shorten might be interested in political pointscoring about this issue. In fact, he has been interested in political pointscoring about this issue, and that’s why I directed those comments at Bill Shorten and Bill Shorten specifically.
You say “bank”, ScoMo hears “Bill”:
I haven’t heard Bill Shorten put one suggestion forward how to improve that system, other than the call he made for the inquiry. He didn’t even come up with the terms of reference for the inquiry, so I don’t hold back from my criticism of Bill Shorten, not one second.
The Treasurer then suggests someone else has a Shorten obsession:
But that’s about Bill. It’s always about Bill with Bill.
Having his cake and eating it. ScoMo concludes:
I don’t want to engage in political pointscoring with Bill Shorten. He can take over there, if he likes.
The Financial Services Minister chimes in:
I absolutely agree with the Treasurer. This should not be a matter of pointscoring.
For bonus points, O’Dwyer reaches for the magic “however”:
I think it is worth remembering, however, that Bill Shorten did serve on the Treasury benches for a number of years … We are cleaning up the system that Bill Shorten broke.
O’Dwyer in The Sydney Morning Herald, August 31, 2016:
For the Labor Party to propose a royal commission into banks is reckless and ill-conceived. Critically, a royal commission would go over old ground and would delay well-developed and important reforms, such as lifting the professional standards for advisers. A royal commission would send the signal internationally that the government believes there are structural problems with our banking and financial system …
Have his cake and eating it, part two. Bill Shorten’s presser yesterday:
Journalist: As you say, dodgy and scandalous stuff coming out of this commission. Should you then or do you now reflect and think, well maybe Labor should have held one … when we were in government?
Shorten: The Liberal government (has) been in for five years now. When do they ever take responsibility for anything?
Malcolm Turnbull’s press conference over in London yesterday:
Journalist: If Barnaby Joyce lost his job for engaging in an extramarital affair, why shouldn’t Prince Charles lose his plum position now? I mean, with his chequered history?
Turnbull: Thanks. Next question.
The Sydney Morning Herald’s Twitter account yesterday:
Breaking: The baby boy at the centre of a relationship scandal that led to Barnaby Joyce’s resignation as deputy prime minister and leader of the Nationals has arrived.
Sibling paper The Age tweeting more economically:
Barnaby Joyce and Vikki Campion welcome baby boy.
When the staff member hits the wrong button. Derryn Hinch’s Twitter account yesterday:
Derryn, what words do you want placed on the ribbon of the wreath.