We have a problem. You know that. Note, I didn’t say
you have a problem because I believe we all need to take some ownership for it.
That said, as the leader of my party (and the government) it’s down to you to dig
us out of the quagmire.
I will start this in saying I think you get a rough
deal from many conservatives. That’s not to say you don’t deserve a lot of the
criticism you receive. However, many within our conservative ranks harbour
grudges (that seems to be the way of the world). A large percentage is
incapable of accepting people over time change their views on certain issues. Or
should I say they won’t accept you personally can change your position without
an ulterior motive! At the risk of raising the indignation of people who may
read this, its rubbish to think people’s opinions never change. Even people you
don’t like. We frequently change our positions on key issues as we become
better informed or our circumstances change.
I can’t and won’t claim credit for the bulk of this
comment. It came from one of the smarter contributors to comments in the
Australian but it highlights the issue beautifully. He posted it in response to
the article on Alan Jones demented rant this week.
I will leave the ‘delcon’ reference in, in the
interests of accuracy although personally don’t like labels.
It reads; “One has to wonder what would satisfy the
delcon brigadiers. Abbott signs the RET, Turnbull retains the policy, but Abbott
is a true Liberal and Turnbull ‘labor-lite’. Abbott increases taxes, Turnbull
cuts taxes, but Abbott is a true Liberal and Turnbull ‘labor-lite’. Abbott
introduces a ridiculous paid parental scheme, squibs it, Turnbull leaves it
where it belongs, but Abbott is a true Liberal and Turnbull ‘Labor-lite’.
Turnbull has a go at reforming 18C, Abbott squibs it. But Abbott is a true
Liberal and Turnbull ‘Labor-lite”. Abbott establishes the TURC, Turnbull
implements the key recommendations with the ABCC. But Abbott is a true Liberal
and Turnbull ‘Labor-lite’. There are none so blind”
There is more we can add to the list. As an example;
Tony Abbott increased the refugee intake in response to the Syrian crisis. You
maintained the target, ensured the strictest of vetting and ensured it was
majority of Christians who we took in.
Tony Abbott threatened to reform the senate and then
squibbed it. You drove through a change of rules (a start if not the optimum
result yet). You called a double dissolution and won the election albeit by the
slimmest of margins.
Once again in these cases Tony Abbott is a true
Liberal but you are viewed as ‘Labor-lite’ and in the case of refugees you are labelled
a Muslim appeaser. Labor wouldn’t do any of the things you have done. So
labelling you ‘Labor-lite’ is absurd.
So yes, I do believe you get a rough deal from certain
conservatives over your image. I also think you get a rough deal given the
policies the government has managed to get through the senate in recent months.
Particularly budget repair initiatives albeit once again not everything, a lot
has been achieved. More than was getting through previously.
I will go off topic for a minute. Like most Grans my
Granny was a firm believer in idle hands need work. I’m also a believer in idle
hands mischief make and can be very destructive. I speak from personal
experience here. This leads me back to our problem and the so called feud with Tony
Abbott.
It appears to me, Mr Abbott who fuels a lot of
discontent (despite his prostrations to the contrary) needs a meaningful job. He
has idle hands so he mischief makes. It must be difficult to make the switch
from being on the front-line for so many years to now play on the benches. He
has been in the position of Cabinet Minister, Opposition Leader and then Prime
Minister. As a backbencher he has significantly less to occupy his time. He’s
an action man. We know that. So he creates his own action none of it very
positive.
You and government can’t afford to keep dealing with
the distractions when there are more important things to focus on. You can no
longer afford to have the good things that are achieved be drowned out by media
feeding off snipping and infighting. This is what leads to perception issues. Sadly,
far too many people don’t read beyond a headline.
I’m one who believed keeping Tony Abbott out of the
cabinet was a good idea. I’ve had a rethink based on current events and I think
now is the time to give him a job. It will take leadership courage to do it,
but it will achieve positive outcomes. Let's face it what do you have to lose? It raises you above pettiness. If you
give him a job based on a portfolio that he’s extremely fond of giving advice
on, it means he needs to ‘put his money where he’s mouth is’.
Tony Abbott delivered on two key election promises
with the help of some very good ministers. Stopping the boats and removing the
carbon and mining taxes. After that he stumbled. So now is the time to test
just how good he really is. Give him something meaty that he now appears to be
the expert on and that will deliver a significant result to the electorate. Support
him and if he delivers let him take the credit. We all win in that case; him,
you, the government and the electorate. If he fails bury him once and for all.
Don’t give him something soft like Indigenous Affairs.
That won’t test him. Scrapping or restructuring the Human Rights commission and
reengineering 18C would be meaty. As would cutting the RET. Both of these are
on his five point plan. They are measurable as well. If successful we should
see a lift in the polls.
This comment was made in an article titled the Golden
Age of Phony. ‘It used to be said that actions speak louder than words. But
today, the opposite is true; words matter more than actions. People are judged
by intentions not results.”
We see this in our political arena daily. Media
drives it. Social media feeds off it. It’s
time to reverse the trend and get back to profiling results. We need to stop the chatter. Remove the soap boxes and get results onto the front page and infighting and snipping off. Let Tony Abbott show he can actually contribute to the results that he believes are game changers. But contribute in a meaningful way with actions not words. The question is, will you do it?
