Editorial: Seriously minister, no wonder voters are over pollies’ hypocrisy

To borrow Shannon Fentiman’s own phrase, one of the reasons people are so reluctant to trust politicians is the constant shameless hypocrisy, writes the editor.

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman on Tuesday. Picture: Adam Head

Ah, the irony. The same state Labor figures who have told Queensland voters at election after election that they should fear the LNP because of what happened a decade ago spent yesterday defending their candidate in Burleigh who twice posted “f--k the police” on social media – saying it’s fine because she did so years ago.

And the gall of Health Minister Shannon Fentiman, who took to radio to defend the candidate by saying: “This is one of the reasons why people are so reluctant to run for politics – anything you’ve ever said, views you have held decades ago, come back to bite you.”

This is the same Minister who exactly a week previously had stood beside the Premier and nodded vigorously as he said of Opposition Leader David Crisafulli’s apparent role as a junior minister in the Newman government a full 12 years ago: “It was him that cut those health workers, it was him who closed those schools, it was him who cancelled those projects. Their plan has not changed.”

Seriously Minister, to borrow your own phrase; this is one of the reasons why people are so reluctant to trust politicians – the constant shameless hypocrisy.

Voters are not fools, despite what it seems most politicians think. You cannot on the one hand tell voters they cannot trust your opponent’s when they say they have learned the lessons of the Newman era, when on the other you demand a candidate is forgiven for literally posting abusive comments about police offers because “she has said she has a very different view now”.

“This is something she said 14 years ago,” Ms Fentiman said of the candidate, Claire Carlin – who in 2011 wrote “f--k tha police!” and a year earlier wrote “on the count of three say … f--k the police 1. 2. 3.”

Ms Fentiman yesterday: “She has said she has a very different view now. It’s not her view any more.”

Ms Fentiman in State Parliament on May 22: “Campbell Newman demanded to know if the LNP would implement the same policies they put in place from 2012 to 2015 … is (Mr Crisafulli) going to choose between a magic wand or sacking 4000 health workers? Is he going to choose between a magic wand or closing down youth mental health facilities? Is it going to be a magic wand or privatising health assets just like they did with our aged-care facilities?”

Sigh. But back to Premier Steven Miles, who is desperate to convince Queenslanders that Mr Crisafulli was somehow the puppet master of that administration’s controversial decisions – despite the fact he was a junior member of that cabinet, in charge only of local government, community recovery and resilience.

In the next breath, the Premier asks Queenslanders to believe that he bears absolutely no personal responsibility for the failings of the Palaszczuk era – despite the fact that he was the second in charge for the last four years of it.

Premier Miles yesterday, when asked about the LNP’s apparent preference to rebuild the Gabba instead of his planned temporary facility at Nathan: “I think that would be a shame for Queensland.”

Mr Miles as deputy premier in November last year: “The Gabba’s 128-year history makes it iconic for Queensland, this redevelopment will ensure a lasting legacy to be enjoyed for another 128 years and beyond.

“This isn’t just about a stadium upgrade. This is about anchoring an urban renewal project that will see Woolloongabba transformed like South Bank was transformed for Expo 88.”

VOTERS PUNISH ARROGANCE

David Crisafulli has to be careful to not fall into the trap of assuming he has won the election before he and the LNP actually does.

The party are still at unbackable odds of $1.08 in the two-horse race, but not one vote has yet been cast – and it would therefore be wrong of the LNP to get ahead of itself.

Former federal Labor leader Bill Shorten was guilty of this ahead of the 2019 election, when he took the polling for granted and assumed he would win. He did not, and while hindsight is a wonderful thing, he probably should not have been so brazen in talking ahead of polling day about his hopes of moving his blended family into The Lodge.

Voters hate any politician who shows too much arrogance in
pre-empting the people’s verdict.

Most politicians at one time or another will utter the words “the only poll that matters is the poll on election day”. While this is usually to explain away a poor survey, it is also a truism. Just ask Mr Shorten – now on his way out of politics.

It does not matter if public opinion has for years previously indicated the voters are ready for change. The only opinions that count are those expressed on the ballot papers.

Mr Crisafulli is hoping his small-target strategy will allow him and the LNP to sail into power through a referendum on the past decade of an at-times dysfunctional Labor administration. But his opponents are cleverly exploiting the space that his strategy leaves open to sow doubt about his “real plans”. The LNP should assume nothing.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Chris Jones, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details here

Originally published as Editorial: Seriously minister, no wonder voters are over pollies’ hypocrisy