The Election Is Over, The Battle Begins

The election is over big sigh of relief. But the stress and worry begins. This election was never going to be easy. That said, the result is much worse than I expected but very close to what the pollsters were saying. 

We now have the recriminations, finger pointing and blame game following tight outcomes. The anti Turnbull voices are loud in their proclamations Tony Abbott would’ve romped in. Well, they don’t know that.

“The sign of intelligence is that you are constantly wondering. Idiots are always so dead sure.” 

I like to think I possess more than one grey cell. So as I sit and ponder on the wreckage that is before us, I do wonder. I wonder how different it possibly would be if Tony Abbott hadn’t been so pigheaded and made Malcolm Turnbull Treasurer. I wonder how different it might have been if the voters in 2013 hadn’t been so stupid in backing people like Palmer. If they had given Tony Abbott, a workable senate and stopped playing this game of political senate Russian roulette. I wonder what the outcome would look like if  Malcolm Turnbull had brought Tony Abbott into the fold. But, that's the past we can’t change it. All we can do is focus on now and try to influence the future outcomes. 

I am very disappointed in the Liberals campaign. Whilst some of the blame for our poor result rests on Malcolm Turnbull’s shoulders, he isn’t responsible for everything. It's obvious our inexperienced campaign team in comparison to Labor’s well seasoned and experienced attack squad were totally out-played. Wrong strategy, wrong tactics and not nimble enough. Despite what the likes of Bolt say the Medicare scare campaign resonated with the electorate. It should have been stopped dead. It wasn’t. On polling day Medicare signs were everywhere along with GetUp spreading the fear message. As one journalist said, people were already scared about health. So you can see it wouldn’t take much to scare them even more.  

I will say again, I’m not a huge fan of Malcolm Turnbull. But the personal stuff being levelled at him is nasty. I suspect a lot is tinged with a level of envy but that's the attacker’s problem not mine.  I’ve spent a lot of time trying to learn more about the man. From where I sit he's a decent bloke who has made a success of his life. He's got a lovely family who he adores and who love him. He’s been accused of disloyalty. That's debatable. Politicians first loyalty is to the voters. We’ve got to stop the personal attacks. They serve no purpose other than feeding the attackers revenge and hurting people. 

The only questions we should ask now are. (Assuming we do manage to retain government)

Is he a good Prime Minister? On current form that's questionable and, it depends on what measures we use. Using the election as the measure you’d have to say no. We may scrape in and whilst a win would be a win Turnbull’s authority is weakened.

Is he capable of leading a marginal Government and becoming a good PM. He should be. Others have in the past and I’m a believer that “when the chips are down” a person’s true skills and abilities comes to the fore. 

Calls for his sacking are ludicrous. People whinged ad nauseam over Rudd/Gillard/Rudd and then Abbott/Turnbull. Then before the ink is dry, they're screaming for another head. The party room appoints the leader. Not social media or bloggers, journo’s or radio hacks. The party room needs to do the right thing and give Turnbull the opportunity to turn this mess around. The chopping and changing has to stop. 

As for Mr Turnbull. It's OK to blame Labor's disgraceful campaign but, it's been said. Move on. You need to stand before the Australian voters and admit ‘we’ did a poor job and as leader you accept responsibility for that. Then tell us how it will be different. What are you going to do and if it means amending some policies fine. If it means doing a few deals to get key policies through do it. But explain the what why and the impact. That's the only way to bring people on side and for them to understand the cost of their decisions in voting for minorities. Last, bring Tony Abbott into the fold. He passed the test during the campaign. As they say, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Labor is the enemy. 

It will be an interesting if somewhat tense few days and potentially a very rocky road ahead. But voters planted the seeds and we all better pray really hard that the crop we all reap sustains us. 

Malcolm Turnbull Can't Afford To Fall Into The Tony Abbott Trap

When the Liberals changed leaders I breathed a sigh of relief. Despite getting off to a good start after winning the election, by early 2015 the cracks were forming. The consequences of that are common knowledge. The Government limped along until the challenge in September last year. 

When Malcolm Turnbull put his hand up for the top job he did it on the basis of the leadership failures of Tony Abbott. Such as Tony didn't listen to his caucus or consult with his cabinet. Tony’s arrogance and refusal to listen to ministers who, after all, are the ones in charge of their portfolio’s. Tony suspected the loyalty of his ministers and a lot of that drove his lack of trust issues. Tony’s inability to lead the team and to manage the recalcitrant backbenchers. Tony’s failure to deal with the heavy handed over controlling PMO. Ministers were frustrated, backbenchers were frustrated and the electorate was becoming increasingly disillusioned. This played right into the hands of our hound-dog left leaning media. 

Malcolm likewise got off to a great start. Whilst many Abbott disciples turned on Malcolm with a vengeance the electorate in good old Aussie fashion were prepared to give him a go. It was a baptism by fire with major security issues, TURC and bedding down a new team, etc., but he weathered the storm. I thought he did a pretty good job. 

However, in the last few weeks, Malcolm appears to be doing exactly what he accused Tony Abbott of doing, particularly when it comes to consultation and engagement, managing the trouble makers and making decisions. 

Despite what some people have said, the left wing media were never going to give Malcolm a free run. In particular, there is a well developed Fairfax/Labor partnership driving a ‘divide and conquer’ strategy that will run its course up to the election regardless of who is leading the Conservatives. They are using every crack, every stumble and every hint of discord to drive the wedge, spook the backbenchers and unsettle the electorate and it’s working. Again!!! 

Malcolm came to the chair on the basis that he was best placed to drive economic reform. He has credentials to do that, but he isn’t the Treasurer, Scott Morrison is. It appears blatantly obvious that Malcolm and Scott have not been on the same page. 

Malcolm made the fatal mistake of going to the public and talking up Tax Reform and not engaging effectively with the Treasurer. Malcolm in essence did a Tony he ‘jumped the shark’. The humiliating backdown and the resulting flip flopping is playing right into Labor’s hands. As a result the attacks on Labor’s budget plans are being derailed. We’re on the back foot, when it should be Labor. 

The Treasurer has been working for weeks with the department and other bodies to determine the best course of action to deliver a plan to bring our economic future into balance. That plan will be announced in the May budget. That’s no easy task when you consider the Treasurer has to manage Labor’s debt mine field and deliver on what conservatives hold dear; lower taxes, debt reduction, controlled spending, growth and jobs. He has to do this in the face of falling revenues, global uncertainty, an ever demanding electorate, a feral Senate who continue to block savings measures and a bunch of ‘jump at shadows’ backbenchers. 

Perhaps Malcolm feels that given the expectations the electorate had as a result of his financial background that he is one who should be engaging with the public on all financial matters. He shouldn’t. That’s Scott Morrison’s job. Malcolm should be managing behind the scenes. Given comments over the last couple of days it looks like Malcolm now realises that Scott Morrison is right when he talks about the importance of controlling spending and going after some minor reforms leading up to the election. The big Tax Reform can come later. Let's face it, you don’t have to eat the elephant in one go. Pacing yourself often gets a much better result and certainly creates less heartburn for both the Government and the voters. 

It takes an exceptional person to step into a new leadership role and not stumble a few times until they come to grips with all aspects of being the leader. Malcolm has been an extremely successful entrepreneur and businessman. That doesn’t automatically mean that he would instantly become a superb leader of the Government. I think he is trying to do too much himself. Good leaders manage from the middle, they understand their portfolio managers are grown-ups, they don’t need the boss holding their hand. If Ministers need consultation they know where the PMO office is.  This was something that Tony couldn’t grasp, but Malcolm can. His business success proves that. Now, he just needs to do it; for himself, his team and the many weary Liberal supporters out there who are losing the will to continue to support the party. 

The Prime Minister is a smart man and from what I am hearing, Malcolm will listen to the advice he is receiving and I’m strongly of the belief he will act upon it and then we can all get back to doing what we like best, focusing on wiping out Labor at the next election. 

LIBERAL PARTY: DENIAL, ANGER & ACCEPTANCE

“Shooting the messenger is alive and well in Australia.” Some of the ‘darlings’ of the conservative movement are now being attacked and vilified because they supported Malcolm Turnbull. Hitlist’s of the ‘traitors’ are being compiled and circulated. Even one ‘shock-jock’ in Sydney was outing people today and he even resorted to hanging up on one MP who would not confirm who he supported. 

Like many, I was very disappointed with the dumping of yet another first team Prime Minister. However, if you read my Reflections Blog, you will be aware that I for one have been pleading for a number of things to be fixed or changed. And, I have warned that we were losing the support of moderate conservatives who, frankly, had simply had enough of the destabilization, the white-anting and the failure to cut through. 

Once people stop listening and simply turn off or turn away, then you have to take stock. We can blame and attack the media (as I regularly do) and we can attack the opposition and blame those groups for everything. We can blame the weak kneed within our party (I’ve done that as well)  but at the end of the day what was still missing was a change in OUR  tactics. 

Our communication has been appalling. We simply weren’t capitalising on Labor’s own failing, things such as; their leadership tensions, the Burke travel expenses affair, Shorten’s personal disclosures at TURC, Shorten’s & Union assault on the Royal Commissioner, Shorten & the Union’s ChAFTA campaign, Shorten’s 50/50 Climate blackhole (the list is endless). Despite this ‘gold mine’ our Liberal fortunes have languished badly in the polls. This has been going in for months. We can whinge all we like about poll driven politics, but that is the reality. We simply weren’t getting the message through, we weren’t lifting the needle and there was an overwhelming fear that the position was terminal. 

Tony Abbott is a genuine and loyal Liberal and a very loyal friend. He was a formidable opposition leader and as Prime Minister, he delivered some outstanding results in very difficult circumstances. Even John Howard said, Mr Abbott delivered on things he thought were almost impossible to do. But, Mr Abbott was not a good ‘team leader’ and he couldn’t win over the hearts and minds the electorate. He wouldn’t make the necessary changes to remove the deadwood within the party; be that backroom or ministerial.  As in business, if the leader fails, the team fails and the leader has to go. That’s often unfair and unfortunate, particularly when the leader is a nice person. But that’s the reality. 

Sadly, Mr Abbott has paid the price. He could have taken action, he didn’t. He let his loyalty get in the way of common sense and good judgement. He was far too passive for his own good. Sitting members were angry because the things he promised were not forthcoming; like greater consultation, and as an example more and inclusive decision making. I know the advice Mr Abbott was given was dismissed and ignored. So all the positive things that were happening and in fact did happen, were overshadowed by the relentless negativity. 

“If you don’t cut the snake off at the head, you run the risk of it whipping around and biting you.”

I’m no fan of either Malcolm Turnbull or Julie Bishop. I hope & pray that Malcolm has indeed learnt from his past failures and that he will in fact stick to the agreed plan. But what he can do, that Mr Abbott couldn’t is sell a vision and a strategy. Malcolm is the consummate debater. If you watched him in question-time today, he was masterful. He just beat the opposition off and highlighted their own incompetence in the process.  

Malcolm has been a very successful business man and he is no fool. Whilst his personal leanings tilt further to the left than Tony Abbott, I seriously doubt he will make the same mistakes twice. That said, we need to hold him to that commitment. Whilst many of the more active right wing social media, posters claim he’ll only pick up left supporters, that simply isn’t true. He will also pick up a lot of the middle ground we have lost and that is crucial. 

There are three things that are clear to me. We’ve been in denial for far too long. Our problems have been there for all to see, we had our chances, we didn’t take them. Like many, I’ve been hoping and praying things would pick up. Week after week my heart has sunk further and further. That has come to a head this week. 

Many of us moved quickly to the anger stage. I understand that. I’m angry. I’m angry with Mr Abbott for not taking action. I’m angry with the swiftness and the timing. I’m angry because I was hoping for a miracle that wasn’t forthcoming. But I know something had to change. 

So for me, I’m moving on to acceptance. The deed is done, now I’m focusing my time and energy on defeating Labor and the Greens. If others want to spend their time destroying the Liberal brand, so be it. I want no part of it. There is far too much at stake. The party is bigger than one man. 

What Crime Has Tony Abbott Committed?

If you believe the polls, Prime Minister Tony Abbott is a dead man walking. This viewpoint is promoted at every opportunity by our salacious left leaning media and the fickle among the middle to right journos. Given these unrelenting attacks. More and more Liberal supporters are starting to waver and to doubt Mr Abbott’s suitability to lead. In all truthfulness, I’ve had my doubts, but something always brings me back from the brink. That one thing is, Tony Abbott’s ability to withstand these unrelenting attacks and to stick to his guns. That takes guts and courage. 

Now, some will interpret that as stubbornness and unwillingness to listen. I dispute that. He has listened and backed away from a number of proposed initiatives; example GP tax. There have been others.  But on those things he promised to deliver, he has stuck to his guns. That says a lot about character. A very important element in a leader. 

No one can be stabbed in the back day in, day out and not wear some scars. After the new government came to power, in 2013 it didn't take long for the left brigade to start their attacks Tony Abbott. They were swiftly joined by the media. They attacked him over boats, removing carbon and mining taxes and trying to deliver economic reform. The very things that the majority of people voted for. He also stated SSM marriage wasn't on the agenda this term and there would be a review into unions. Of these things he has delivered or is delivering. So he is doing what he said he would do. Hence delivering what the electorate asked of him. 

Tony Abbott has ‘put his neck on the line’ over thorny issues in the past; the Republic debate and Climate Change being two of them. The media were extremely vocal in expressing their views that the public wanted a republic and the media supported the climate change myth (they still do). The media said YES, the public said NO. Tony Abbott was right. Interesting given the questions over his judgement of late. Now of course, if you believe the polls we believe climate change is a big issue and we want  more stringent targets than the government has suggested AND we want a tax on carbon. Really? Have we really come a full circle in less than two years? 

I have said before, It was NEVER going to be easy for Tony Abbott. The opposition and the media were never his friends. It was made much harder by a bunch of new, inexperienced MP's to parliament and as has been proven,  a bunch driven by self interest fuelled by massive egos. The moment the attacks on Tony Abbott, started they went to jelly. They jump into the dump with the knockers. That was the cue for the ego driven opportunistic's within the inner circle to start their divide and conquer. What astounds me is, our party and elected representatives have learnt nothing from Labor’s downfall.  After spending six years in opposition and a large portion of that attacking Labor’s instability, they have quickly degenerated to the same level. The one person who has maintained their resilience, determination and loyalty is Tony Abbott. 

Tony Abbott has attempted to clear the decks so he can focus on those things that will continue to make a difference.

1. Jobs growth

2. National security

3. And, the economy

The soft issues like SSM marriage will be  up to the people to decide. Polls indicate people want this and the only question is timing.  Climate will be dealt with and supported by a sensible plan that will cost between $3 to $4 billion per annum, not the unsustainable Labor plan. He is putting the economy ahead of the climate.  

The Prime Minister is standing firm with regards to the Royal Commission and given the Unions and Labor are fighting so hard to stop him, you know there are more dirty dealings to emerge. For what it is worth, I applaud this initiative. Protecting employees should be paramount. 

So, given Tony Abbott has delivered. What exactly are we 'hanging' him for. It can't be for not getting things done. So is it down to? 

Is it because he is a bit clumsy and awkward?  Hardly a hanging offence. 

Is it because he holds christian values and won't cave in to social reengineering bullies? Doesn’t make him a criminal. 

Is it because he put some things out there in trying to balance the books that weren't popular? You would have to be very foolish not to think this would be an outcome given our welfare dependant society. 

Is it because he can't sell a vision? Fair enough, but who else has stepped up to help? Great teams use their strengths for better outcomes and if the leader isn’t the strongest at selling the plan those who can step up. Unless of course there are hidden agendas driven by self-interest. 

Or, is it because as someone suggested to me, that he has become a laughing stock. Why? Because the media jumps  on every little word stumble? Big deal, we all do it. Is it because he is a volunteer firefighter and he does a lot for charity? Is it because he loves his wife and daughters? Is it because he goes to church?   

I'm struggling to find the hanging offence. Perhaps I’m missing something. I’d love to know what it is. 

“The ego is one of the biggest barriers to people working together effectively. When people get caught up in their egos, it erodes their effectiveness. That's because the combination of false pride and an overactive and over inflated ego gives people a distorted image of their own importance. When that happens, people see themselves as the centre of the universe and they begin to put their own agenda, safety, status, and gratification ahead of those affected by their thoughts and actions.”

What Message Are We Sending to Our Impressionable Youth?

The threat of ISIS and their ability to attract the young is of grave concern to many, me included. Others just write it off as the Muslim call to arms which is a tad naive.  Naïve for two reasons; firstly, many who rally to the call are converts and two, most have little understanding of the deeper ISIS agenda which is in conflict with most Muslims desire to live in harmony.

Musing over the issue, following a number of recent articles I have read and comments I have read it got me thinking about the confusion many must struggle with. We often talk about the decline in behavioural standards. Of parent’s inability to control their children and of the mix messages children receive from what has become an ever increasing left learning education system.

In the case of Muslim youth where strict disciplines apply in the home, kids hear a very different message on the street, on social media, often in schools and from their friends. The global push to brand every Muslim a terrorist and terrorist in waiting certainly doesn’t help. No wonder some turn elsewhere for so called solace and acceptance. There, waiting in the shadows is ISIS.

ISIS is extremely skilled when it comes to propaganda. They know exactly how to reel these kids in. We can deny it all we like, but society in general has helped create the environment where groups like ISIS can continue to recruit these kids. This isn’t new. We have had groups before who were equally skilled. The difference now is the scale and the global impact. Examples such as The “Children of God” are no more than a sex perversion group but they do attract people. We’ve had the “Japanese Extreme Truth” they are largely religious terrorists but their impact whilst brutal is geographically restricted. The Moonie’s (Unification Church) as an example didn’t recruit kids and then teach them how to strap on a bomb and blow themselves and anyone close by to bits, ISIS does.

I read a story last night about a Germany ISIS recruit who managed to escape the clutches of ISIS and return to Germany where he is now facing trial. He commented that he was so disenfranchised he would have joined any group who accepted him. In his case, the first just happened to be ISIS. Of course when he got to Syria he discovered he had two options; learn how to fight or learn how to be a suicide bomber. In his words that really meant “death or death”. He mentioned he was offered four wives and stated who wouldn’t want four women. His closing comment was life in jail in Germany was preferable to the horror he witnessed in Syria at the hands of ISIS. He was sold a dream and received a nightmare.

Sarah Khan from the outstanding Inspire Group in the UK spoke eloquently on the topic recently when highlighting some of the propaganda that is spread. She mentioned the picture painted is that the west is at war with Islam but equally Islam is at war with the west and Muslims have no choice but to pick a side. Hard to resist when you feel you have no option because no one else wants you. I have attached the article at the bottom. I encourage people to read it and to get behind groups like Inspire who are taking the challenge of extremism head on.  

There was a time, not so long again where the messages kids received in the home, at school and from people in authority were largely the same. Certainly I received very complimentary messages from others areas. Work hard, respect others (treat others as you would have them treat you), respect your parents and obey them and the law. In other words, live by the values we were taught in line with the 10 commandments as an example. Most religions have a similar set of values. But of course now, the narrative in many instances is very different as Sarah highlights.

In the past kids didn’t have access to the Internet so the life education they received came from parents, relatives, teachers, group leaders who as I’ve stated “all sang from the same hymn book”.  

As an example, religious study has been largely removed from schools. We have also, at the same time witnessed a dramatic decline in Christian followers which probably has a lot to do with the school decision. The exception to this being faith schools. Children are taught they don’t have to obey their parents, that they have rights. Some kids have even sued their parents and won. Kids show little respect for authority. You only have to sight the behaviour of some youths at protests to see that. Jump onto Facebook or Twitter and read some of the comments. The parents sadly in many instances are no better.  When I read what some parents say on social media, I wouldn’t trust them to raise a dog let alone kids. Even worse, for many kids, life education comes from the internet.  A scary thought indeed.

So everywhere you turn there is mixed messages.

We can endeavour to do something about it if we have the will. This is where Leadership plays an important role and each of us can play a part in this. We can be consistent with our message and challenge those messages that create confusion. We can support Muslim and other organisations who are actively involved in fighting extremism and who are creating the ‘right narratives’.  We can stop blaming everyone else and take responsibility ourselves because like it or not we have helped create the environment we are now faced with changing.  It’s down to each and every one of us.

Will Inspire - Sarah Khan

Smart Leaders Don't Play The Misogynist Card

I know very few strong female leaders who haven’t faced some level of bullying in their career. I’ve certainly received my fair share. It often took the form of undermining, attempts to belittle, spreading untruths, and even being accused of bullying for simply standing my ground.  Most, find ways to overcome and often earn the respect of the ‘bully’ in doing so. In my case, two men who bullied me at one point ended up becoming two of my strongest allies and supporters. Few, use bullying as a tool to gain sympathy or gain. Whilst we have shared our experiences among ourselves and even used experiences and our solutions when teaching other woman how to deal with bullying, few make a big ‘song and dance’ about it.

With the above mind, it disappoints me (and to some degree surprises me) that Julia Gillard has once again chosen to accuse another man of bullying. This time, she has used the opportunity in a documentary airing on ABC. Julia has a history of accusing men of bullying her; Tony Abbott and now Kevin Rudd to name two. Julia always struck me as a strong and forthright woman. Strong and forthright women do not devalue themselves in admitting men bully them. You would never hear Margaret Thatcher or Angela Merkel do that.

Ms Gillard achieved the highest position in the land, that of Prime Minster. Whilst her ascension to the position was clouded with controversy, the fact that she was in a position to be considered and that she was eventually appointed by the Labor party speaks volumes.  It indicates she is as they say ‘no wilting flower’. So why is she constantly pushing the misogynist bullying line. To me, it indicates she only got the position playing the weak female. That may be unfair but I suspect I’m not the only one who thinks that.  Particularly those of us who have reached senior positions within big business and who have faced all sorts of barriers (including misogyny and bullying) but who have dealt with it quietly and not used it as a crutch.

I do not support Julia Gillard’s political party being an avowed middle of the road conservative. I also think she was a very poor Prime Minister which is a huge disappointment for many. Those two things aside, she had a superb opportunity to be a great role model for young women endeavouring to build their careers. I am always looking for inspirational women to use as examples to help motivate young women to be the very best they can. Unfortunately, those women who seek to play the misogyny card demotivate rather than motivate. Certainly, those women who play that card to excuse their failures are automatically dismissed. Sadly Julia is in that group. What an opportunity we have lost as a result.