’Twas the day after V-Day inside the house, one thing stirring was Michaelia’s nous
A prophecy? Jobs and Innovation Minister Michaelia Cash’s press conference, February 15:
There’s a lot of white noise in this place but I am not being distracted by it … At the end of the day you guys report what you guys report.
White noise? Some headlines, yesterday and Thursday:
The Courier-Mail: “Michaelia Cash hides from media behind whiteboard”
Business Insider: “Under fire Jobs Minister Michaelia Cash is hidden from the media by Parliamentary security using a whiteboard”
The Sydney Morning Herald: “Cash shielded by whiteboard as PM refuses to condemn minister”
Daily Mail: “Something to hide? Parliament security use white boards to block cameras taking pictures of Michaelia Cash”
SBS: “Put your whiteboard away, Pyne tells Cash”
The Australian: “Michaelia Cash makes a hash of her whiteboard entry”
James Jeffrey in The Australian’s Sketch, yesterday:
Word began filtering into the House of Representatives that Cash had just starred in another escapade. To wit: entering Senate estimates behind the flimsy shield that was a whiteboard, one so hilariously small for the intended purpose it had the daftness of a Steve Fielding stunt … Even one of Parliament House’s gentlest, most sweetly natured observers was later found near where the whiteboard had been abandoned like a getaway car, eyes wide with wonder and observing, “These people are f..king idiots.”
Jack the Insider pondering the whiteboard, theaustralian.com.au, yesterday:
Those who enjoy a day at the races know that when the screens go up, generally speaking, bad things are about to happen. Not to put too fine a point on it, it is time to reach into your pocket and give the kids $10 to go and buy a couple of buckets of chips in order to avoid offering the not entirely convincing explanation that the horse being winched up on a makeshift crane is going to go and live on a farm, a beautiful farm, the very same farm that bitey dog went to, what’s-his-name, a lovely farm that is just too far away to visit.
Let’s make perfectly, utterly clear that it’s normal for a Labor leader to support John Howard’s gun laws. OK? Bill Shorten during his press conference, yesterday:
I think Australians are actually pleased and proud of John Howard’s gun laws after the Port Arthur massacre and it might sound funny — a Labor leader acknowledging John Howard’s work, but I do, and of course he was supported by Kim Beazley at the time.
Labor’s Brendan O’Connor tackling Adani on Sky News, yesterday:
David Speers: When it comes to the federal approvals that have been given, would you revoke those?
O’Connor: No, we have said that if there are environmental concerns with respect to the project then of course we would have reservations. If there are financial concerns about the project …
Speers: You would not revoke an approval already given though?
O’Connor: No. That certainly is not the position of Labor. And …
Speers: Well, that’s what Geoff Cousins seemed to be suggesting, that Bill Shorten told him that …
O’Connor: He may well say that …
Regular refrain from Ian Richardson as Francis Urquhart in the original House of Cards (1990):
You might think that; I couldn’t possibly comment.