Averse to answers

STREWTH likes to shine a light on opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison from time to time, not least for his role as then Tourism Australia chief in launching the "Where the bloody hell are you?" campaign.

STREWTH likes to shine a light on opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison from time to time, not least for his role as then Tourism Australia chief in launching the "Where the bloody hell are you?" campaign.

That's right; we should never forget that it's Morrison whom we can all thank for the Lara Bingle phenomenon, and what a desolate world it would be without that. Also, we accidentally demoted him to the backbench a while back, and while that one small slip did at least bring a measure of happiness to his Twitter adversary, Australian Workers Union national secretary Paul Howes, we did feel slightly bad about it. Or at least until yesterday, when our minor cock-up was put in the shade by his mauling at the hands of 2UE broadcasters Murray Olds and Murray Wilton. Considering Kerry O'Brien wasn't involved, it was a bumpy encounter ("Back to the Nauru solution? You're kidding"), but some of the best sport was had trying to get Morrison to say whether he'd consulted his colleagues before calling for a cut in immigration. Morrison bravely tried parrying with beloved lines such as, "What your listeners want to know is [insert subject bearing little or no resemblance to the question]". But the Murrays disconcertingly refused to play along: "Did you consult anyone? Yes or no." The short but bruisingly entertaining encounter ended on what struck us as a hilariously insincere note: "Scott Morrison, thanks again. Always a pleasure." Morrison then sounded a bit like a sarcastic assault victim thanking his assailants for breaking only one of his arms. Once he was gone, the Murrays started up again: "Obviously hasn't consulted anyone . . . just blurted it out."

After Malcolm

DURING Morrison's interrogation, one of the Murrays (please don't ask us which one) suggested, "People are saying Malcolm Turnbull is still alive and well in the opposition." To which Morrison replied: "Sorry, I don't understand the point." Meanwhile, The Australian Jewish News is clearly feeling the pain of Turnbull's impending departure at least as much as Strewth is (and definitely as much The Spectator Australia is not), running with a front page that is nothing short of a photographic Mal-athon, accompanied by this sentiment: "What a mensch -- he may not be Jewish, but after years of staunch support, the community will miss Malcolm Turnbull." Dangling syntax aside, Strewth can only agree. Still, no point wallowing in grief; we must, as John Howard often exhorted us, move on. Which brings us to his former adviser Arthur Sinodinos. The Wentworth resident and columnist for The Oz has us on tenterhooks, hinting that he may run, but then again, may not. "I haven't come to any final landing place, but it will be very soon," he tells Strewth, before signing off with an unexpectedly Maoist turn of phrase: "Let a thousand flowers bloom." That sort of leftie stuff should go down well in Wentworth.

Fishy tale

A PRESS release from Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor yesterday on the latest boat to be picked up near Christmas Island mentioned how "the engine failed on the vessel, which began to flounder". What a difference an l makes. As a member of Strewth's random observation corps noted, "Perhaps it was sitting flat on the bottom of the ocean. Perhaps they were packed in like sardines." We can only hope those rescued whistled a grateful tuna. We shall now bring this piscine item to an end in the French style: fin.

Abbott on high

TONY Abbott will be on day five of the Pollie Pedal tomorrow and the route will see him whirring his spokes from Khancoban to Tom Groggin (one of Strewth's favourite place names) to Jindabyne and beyond. Given that he'll be surrounded by the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme, and that Khancoban itself was brought into being to house its thousands of workers from 30 countries, it could be the perfect place for the Iron Monk to reflect on his statement that you only let in migrants once the infrastructure's built. Lovely part of the world, too.

Rann still running

ONE election promise South Australian Premier Mike Rann has already kept is that his arrogant cabinet would reconnect with the voters who gave his re-elected Labor government a good "kick up the pants" at last month's state election. Without any fanfare or media present, the cabinet this week spent some time doorknocking in the rough lands of Port Adelaide, a very safe Labor seat held by Treasurer Kevin Foley. But it seems some of the ministers were not too impressed about the exercise, perhaps hoping the Premier's vow on election night that even his ministers would be out doorknocking was just spin. Bummer about that.

Reading the gaps

IT'S almost like accidental censorship, the unclear bits in a transcript from a politician that add an inadvertent touch of spice to what may be a relatively humdrum exchange. Take this from Kevin Rudd's press conference at Bundaberg hospital yesterday.

Journo: "Prime Minister, what's your (inaudible)?"

Rudd: "Who made those claims?"

Journo: (inaudible)

Rudd: (laughs) "There you go."