Strewth: We’re still missing the other Mal

Contemplate this ... if Malcolm Roberts hadn’t been kicked out of parliament, we wouldn’t have Fraser Anning.

Missing other Mal

One possible definition of mixed feelings is to contemplate the fact that if Malcolm Roberts hadn’t been kicked out of parliament, we wouldn’t have Fraser Anning. One Nation’s reputation for losing its elected members would be slightly less firmly established, the Senate still would have those eyes of Peter O’Toole blue, the press gallery still would be bedazzled by the Roberts press conference style, and taxpayers wouldn’t be lumped with a fat bill because a pollie wanted to fly a long way in business class to attend a jamboree of wannabe fascists. Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone. Anyway, we have Anning and as he undoubtedly ponders what resolutely non-Nazi event he can attend next — a little torchlit parade some evening, perhaps — take a moment to relish the many facets of this contribution on the matter from Liberal MP Jason Wood: “The white supremacists using Nazi salutes is an absolute disgrace. I’ll target any violent group regardless of race or colour, especially foreign-born thugs who diminish our values and beliefs, our values and beliefs which make Australia the greatest place to live.” The St Kilda crew may chalk that one up as a partial win.

More and less

Anning was certainly a popular topic among Labor MPs yesterday, eliciting heartfelt responses that delivered in terms of quality and quantity. Rather less successful in this regard was the topic of Labor’s own Emma Husar, who has been sharing with this august organ her views on her party ahead of her looming, less than happy departure. Exhibit A: “The Liberals are far from the only party having issues with women.” Take Shayne Neumann, whose long, zesty condemnation of Anning and repeated calls for him to do the right thing (as opposed to the far-right thing) was the Oliver Hardy to the Stan Laurel of his Husar response.

Journo: “What did you make of Emma Husar’s comments today regarding women in the Labor Party? …”

Neumann: “The Labor Party takes very seriously workplace complaints and that’s why there was an independent assessment in relation to those complaints. But I note the comments by acting leader Tanya Plibersek, and I support them.” And so on.

Penny Wong also made a long foray into Anning Land, detouring briefly to carry out a drive-by elbowing of fellow South Australian, Liberal MP Nicolle Flint (“She may wish to style herself as a committed local but I think we all know she is a hard-right operative inside the Liberal Party.”) But once again, when the subject of the member for Lindsay was raised, the river didn’t so much dry up as get diverted.

Journo: “What’s your response to Emma Husar saying she wasn’t given a fair go by the party?”

Wong: “It is obviously a very distressing situation in relation to Emma, but rather than focus on that I would like to talk about the broader issue …”

Democracy on its way

The Australian Electoral Commission has an ad out, enticing potential applicants with this prospect: “Get paid to deliver democracy.” It sounds like a glorious, post-shambles political future for the nation, but it is in fact just a call for officials for the NSW election on March 23.

Tallinn tales

During Strewth’s brief but glorious summer hiatus, you may have seen the column about the time yours truly pretended to be Estonian on a Siberian train in 1992. Or, more specifically, tried to pretend, failed and got busted, and the flimsy purpose of the whole exercise — to avoid paying the extra roubles for a foreigner’s ticket — mercilessly scuppered in a cramped conductor’s compartment. As we returned to the office yesterday, we were delighted to find an encouraging message from Estonian ambassador Andres Unga. This surely balances out the ticking off we copped last year from the Russian ambassador.

Not ailing

In the wake of Olivia Newton-John and Billy Connolly denying catastrophic reports about their health, we are indebted to News UK Archives for pulling out this beautya celebrated author sent to the editor of The Times in 1867. Read it aloud and let every sumptuous phrase roll across your tongue like a velvet Jaffa: “Sir — A newspaper paragraph (originating, I have no doubt, in some innocent mistake), to the effect that I am much out of health, has become widely circulated, both in England and abroad, and has brought many inquiries upon me. Will you allow me to state in your columns that the statement is wholly destitute of foundation, and that I was never better in my life? Faithfully yours, Charles Dickens.”

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