In all seriousness, this it a trial-balloon being sent-up to test people's opinions. This kerfuffle shows how divided the Liberal Party are. Factional infighting presents party members with two choices:
Those calling for Josh Frydenberg to replace Amelia Hamer as the Liberal candidate for Kooyong think it's okay to break their own party's preselection process, and are harkening-back to the "Good ol' days" of Scott Morrison. They've forgotten that Josh Frydenberg was one of the worst Federal Treasurers in living memory under the leadership of ScottyFromMarketing.
Those calling for Amelia Hamer haven't heard her say a word about policy, but they like her posh Oxford-educated credentials and good family-name. She gets to ride on the coat-tails of her grandfather, Rupert Hamer, the Premier of Victoria from 1972 to 1981.
Neither group is in touch with reality. Dr Monique Ryan won the seat of Kooyong in 2022 with a 2.9 per cent margin. The seat of Kooyong has been considered a safe Liberal seat for generations. It's why it's given to people in important roles such as Treasurer. Monique Ryan beat Josh Frydenberg because he's a fucking idiot and nobody liked his bootlicking of ScottyFromMarketing.
I wonder what will be the appropriate length of time before the Liberals start utilising Scott in election campaigns? I don’t remember when they started to bring out the Ghost of electoral doom Howard after the shellacking in 2007….
Who else thinks #ScottyFromMarketing's private sector opportunity is within the managerial / faith-leadership structure of a pentecostal church? #AusPol
It's a mystery why Scotty From Marketing didn't resign from politics on the evening or the morning after he lost the 2022 Federal election. Some have speculated that he hung around like a bad smell to piss-off Peter Dutton (I have to admit, I'd give the idea serious consideration), or that he would attempt a comeback spill. I think the reality is that he wanted to maintain his political profile internationally and keep collecting Parliamentary perks while trying to line-up a new job in corporate life. But, this never eventuated. It's traditional for ex-politicians, especially ex-LNP-politicians to benefit from nepotism and be handed positions on one or more company boards. But, Scotty has no friends.
Australia has a dose of ‘long Morrison’, and it’s nothing to sneeze at https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australia-has-a-dose-of-long-morrison-and-it-s-nothing-to-sneeze-at-20230802-p5dtbz.html
COVID-19 may be receding in the memory but Australia can’t seem to shake off “long Morrison”, the lingering effects of a prime ministership widely deemed to have had a pestilential effect on the country’s body politic. Since his departure from office 14 months ago, we have witnessed the emergence of a number of variants.
I have provided to you an additional chapter which has not been included in the bound report and is sealed. It recommends the referrals of individuals for civil action or criminal prosecution. I recommend this additional Chapter remain sealed and not be tabled with the rest of the report so as to not prejudice the conduct of any future civil action or criminal prosecution.
Bill Shorten is rightfully furious at Scott Morrison and the public servants who orchestrated RoboDebt, and he's not in a mood to pull his punches:
The previous government and senior public servants gaslighted the nation and its citizens for 4.5 years. They betrayed the trust of the nation and its citizens for 4.5 years with an unlawful scheme which the Federal Court has called the worst chapter of public administration.
It has broken the sacred trust, that when citizens give some of their power to the Government, that the Government will make sure that it helps, not hurt, citizens. This is a report that shows how the previous government and senior public servants hurt, not helped, citizens.
Lidia Thorpe in the Senate accuses Liberal David Van of sexual assault, but later withdraws comments https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-14/lidia-thorpe-senate-accuses-david-van-sexual-assault/102480086
Senator Lidia Thorpe has used parliamentary privilege to accuse a Liberal senator of sexual assault, but later withdrew the remarks.
Lidia Thorpe said then Prime Minister Scott Morrison relocated Liberal David Van’s office after he allegedly sexually assaulted her.
We should listen to women if they make a claim of sexual assault, and we should believe them.
I'm not going to speculate on why Lidia Thorpe withdrew her comment from parliament, but think it's safe to say there will be more news to come.
I think Amanda Stoker's allegations are consistent with Lidia Thorpe's allegations. It sounds awfully like David Van is a serial sexual abuser.
It makes you wonder who else in the Liberal Party knew what happened and did little to disclose it. Who was the "senior female colleague" Stoker reported the alleged behaviour to? Did some people high-up in the Liberal Party "close ranks" to protect David Van? And, since Lidia Thorpe and Amanda Stoker have spoken-up, will any more victims come forward?