Times Are a-Changing In the Liberal Party
September 22nd 2008 22:58
Finally, after close to a year in the wilderness, it seems like all systems are go in the Federal Liberal Party of Australia. Nelson has traipsed to the backbench, taking with him eleven years of Howard era baggage. Malcolm Turnbull has moved to the Opposition Leader’s chair, bringing with him the vitality and energy of a man who is hungry for victory. The opinion polls have all rebounded, putting the Liberals at their highest levels since before the 2007 election campaign began. Kevin Rudd is finally showing a few signs of flailing in his mission. And the game has been changed by Turnbull’s rejigging of the Opposition frontbench. It may not seem important, but as Malcolm tries to carve out a role for him as the leader of an alternative government he must show that he has a capable team to combat the follies of the Labor Government. He needs attack dogs that are all over the issues and can take down their opponents, not only with brute force but with the finesse of argumentative fencing.
Argumentative fencing is an art-form. There is a beauty in debate when it is done properly, wherein someone can absolutely annihilate their opposition without appearing to be overbearing or leaving any room for their response. The aim is usually not to infuriate them; the aim is to leave them speechless without any way to respond. The flip side of this is the brute strength method, where the debated comes in with all guns blazing, goes on an attack that is anything but subtle and hopes that he can get his opponent so angry that he will become combative and appear to be out of his mind. Malcolm’s frontbench has a little of both. It is as though he has looked at the Government and picked an opposite number specifically suited for what will work on them. First case in point? Joe Hockey. Malcolm has shifted Joe into the position of Shadow Finance Minister opposite Labor’s Lindsay Tanner. Joe is one of those people that appear genuinely affable outside the halls of Parliament but inside can tear a man to shreds. Lindsay, on the other hand, is very easy to get riled up and in the heat of argument can appear to be strident and vicious. With Joe pressing his buttons, Lindsay will get incredibly frustrated and will be ready to explode at any given moment.
Julia Gillard has half of the Ministerial positions herself, but the match-up that will be most fun to watch will be in regards to the Education portfolio. Julia Gillard will go head-to-head with rising star in the Liberal Party Christopher Pyne, whose acerbic wit will be the key in facing down K-Rudd’s number two. I have noticed that Julia doesn’t really know how to respond to witty barbs. She either looks uncomfortable when confronted with them, or she makes an attempt to come back but fails dismally. Chris Pyne is sure to make her uncomfortable, putting people off guard is a skill he seems to have learned from being a Costello protégé during the dying days of the Howard era.
We all know Malcolm did not want to put deputy Julie Bishop in the Treasury portfolio, with common wisdom suggesting he wanted to put accomplished politician Andrew Robb into the job. A respected economist, Robb is one of the smartest people in Parliamentary politics. However, he has one downfall. He is dull. He is not a personality and doesn’t have the power to face-down Wayne Swan, who can be incredibly overbearing and probably would have eaten him alive. But we were spared that sight because Julie put her hand up, said she wanted to position and as deputy leader she was guaranteed whatever position she asked for. It might not be a disaster either. Swan can’t exercise his usually violent temper on Julie Bishop. It isn’t sexism but it would not look good for Swan to fly off the handle at Julie Bishop like he did at Turnbull or Costello before him. The key to understanding Wayne Swan is knowing that his weakness is the same thing as his strength: his volatility. His passion sometimes translates into a temporary psychosis of sorts where he violently defends his point or attacks the Opposition. Julie is excellent at sticking the barbs into her opponents and coming out of it looking like she was making a valid point while her opponent squirms and gets agitated at her cold delivery. Swan will be tempted to go for the jugular. But he has to be careful. It’s not a visual that will play well for the ALP.
The biggest surprise of all was who was put in position as Foreign Minister. Malcolm tapped former Communication Minister Helen Coonan, dragged from the floor of the Senate to serve in the role. This one, however, has little to do with matching up to the opponent. Stephen Smith, current Foreign Minister, is weak and ineffectual. He is not a good Parliamentary performer and does not have a very engaging style, no matter how good at his job he might be. Helen Coonan, on the other hand, is relatively unknown and is somewhat removed from it all on the floor of the Senate. In a head-to-head contest, who knows what would happen. Smith could come off too weak, or Coonan could come off as overbearing. It is unclear but we won’t truly know for quite some time due to the fact that they serve in completely different chambers of government. I think Coonan was picked to put someone in the Senate with the gravitas of a senior Ministry position. In previous years there have been token positions flung at the Senate but they haven’t generally been of the kind that engenders serious consideration. Putting Coonan in as Foreign Minister puts a senior Shadow Minister in the ‘Red Room’ to keep an eye on things and gives the Liberals there someone to rally behind.
What, I hear you ask has happened to some of the old faithfuls? Nelson is on the backbench. Phillip Ruddock is on the backbench. Senator Nick Minchin, former Shadow Defence Minister, has been made Shadow Communications Minister taking a big hit for his vocal support for Brendan Nelson. Tony Abbott is stuck with the position he pleaded to get out of earlier in the week, staying as Shadow Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. It’s not on the front lines but that is what you get for whining. And Peter Costello? He’s still rotting away on the backbench, supplementing his lack of things to do in Parliament with a part time job with the World Bank on a committee to fight corruption.
I guess the times really are a-changing.
Argumentative fencing is an art-form. There is a beauty in debate when it is done properly, wherein someone can absolutely annihilate their opposition without appearing to be overbearing or leaving any room for their response. The aim is usually not to infuriate them; the aim is to leave them speechless without any way to respond. The flip side of this is the brute strength method, where the debated comes in with all guns blazing, goes on an attack that is anything but subtle and hopes that he can get his opponent so angry that he will become combative and appear to be out of his mind. Malcolm’s frontbench has a little of both. It is as though he has looked at the Government and picked an opposite number specifically suited for what will work on them. First case in point? Joe Hockey. Malcolm has shifted Joe into the position of Shadow Finance Minister opposite Labor’s Lindsay Tanner. Joe is one of those people that appear genuinely affable outside the halls of Parliament but inside can tear a man to shreds. Lindsay, on the other hand, is very easy to get riled up and in the heat of argument can appear to be strident and vicious. With Joe pressing his buttons, Lindsay will get incredibly frustrated and will be ready to explode at any given moment.
Julia Gillard has half of the Ministerial positions herself, but the match-up that will be most fun to watch will be in regards to the Education portfolio. Julia Gillard will go head-to-head with rising star in the Liberal Party Christopher Pyne, whose acerbic wit will be the key in facing down K-Rudd’s number two. I have noticed that Julia doesn’t really know how to respond to witty barbs. She either looks uncomfortable when confronted with them, or she makes an attempt to come back but fails dismally. Chris Pyne is sure to make her uncomfortable, putting people off guard is a skill he seems to have learned from being a Costello protégé during the dying days of the Howard era.
We all know Malcolm did not want to put deputy Julie Bishop in the Treasury portfolio, with common wisdom suggesting he wanted to put accomplished politician Andrew Robb into the job. A respected economist, Robb is one of the smartest people in Parliamentary politics. However, he has one downfall. He is dull. He is not a personality and doesn’t have the power to face-down Wayne Swan, who can be incredibly overbearing and probably would have eaten him alive. But we were spared that sight because Julie put her hand up, said she wanted to position and as deputy leader she was guaranteed whatever position she asked for. It might not be a disaster either. Swan can’t exercise his usually violent temper on Julie Bishop. It isn’t sexism but it would not look good for Swan to fly off the handle at Julie Bishop like he did at Turnbull or Costello before him. The key to understanding Wayne Swan is knowing that his weakness is the same thing as his strength: his volatility. His passion sometimes translates into a temporary psychosis of sorts where he violently defends his point or attacks the Opposition. Julie is excellent at sticking the barbs into her opponents and coming out of it looking like she was making a valid point while her opponent squirms and gets agitated at her cold delivery. Swan will be tempted to go for the jugular. But he has to be careful. It’s not a visual that will play well for the ALP.
The biggest surprise of all was who was put in position as Foreign Minister. Malcolm tapped former Communication Minister Helen Coonan, dragged from the floor of the Senate to serve in the role. This one, however, has little to do with matching up to the opponent. Stephen Smith, current Foreign Minister, is weak and ineffectual. He is not a good Parliamentary performer and does not have a very engaging style, no matter how good at his job he might be. Helen Coonan, on the other hand, is relatively unknown and is somewhat removed from it all on the floor of the Senate. In a head-to-head contest, who knows what would happen. Smith could come off too weak, or Coonan could come off as overbearing. It is unclear but we won’t truly know for quite some time due to the fact that they serve in completely different chambers of government. I think Coonan was picked to put someone in the Senate with the gravitas of a senior Ministry position. In previous years there have been token positions flung at the Senate but they haven’t generally been of the kind that engenders serious consideration. Putting Coonan in as Foreign Minister puts a senior Shadow Minister in the ‘Red Room’ to keep an eye on things and gives the Liberals there someone to rally behind.
What, I hear you ask has happened to some of the old faithfuls? Nelson is on the backbench. Phillip Ruddock is on the backbench. Senator Nick Minchin, former Shadow Defence Minister, has been made Shadow Communications Minister taking a big hit for his vocal support for Brendan Nelson. Tony Abbott is stuck with the position he pleaded to get out of earlier in the week, staying as Shadow Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. It’s not on the front lines but that is what you get for whining. And Peter Costello? He’s still rotting away on the backbench, supplementing his lack of things to do in Parliament with a part time job with the World Bank on a committee to fight corruption.
I guess the times really are a-changing.
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