Extraordinary scenes in parliament yesterday when Albo was repeatedly interrupted by Pyne and Abbott while he was trying to read out an smh report of how Brough colluded with Ashby in a plot against his employer may prove to be the hinge-moment of this administration and this Opposition, the moment historians will judge to be the one when the Abbott Adventure finally came unstuck.
Slipper will be Speaker again soon; with power to throw out his tormentors for a day at a time and, I imagine, to launch investigations into his recent stalking by Pyne, Abbott, Ashby and Brough, if that is what occurred. He is the second highest official in the land, after the Governor-General, and conspiracy against him, which this is, in wartime, which this is, is probably treason, and Pyne, if guilty of it, which he may be, may have to vacate his seat and go perhaps to gaol for a while. It is unlikely he would be hanged, as he would in, say, 1942, but he may do time if Slipper is in the mood to pursue him.
Which he well may be.
This is what happens when you collude in a lie whose purpose is the smashing of an elected colleague. A lie of this kind is a very serious one. I have heard things about Ashby that may be sub judice and I cannot reveal yet but they are, on the face of it, shocking and they will come to light I imagine soon enough. And they make Pyne’s collaboration with him, if that is what occurred, a political scandal that puts one in mind of, well, Watergate. Thomson, certainly.
Question Time today should be very interesting.
Name:
Ellis, I would like to add something incisive to your report of this grimy conspiracy, but as usual you have said it for me. Thank whatever idol we may choose to worship for journalists and bloggers like you. There has to be a breaking point, where the machinations and lies of this grubby opposition and its leader will see the light of day. I look forward to further articles on this
And, Rupert Murdoch contemplates splitting his newspapers from his TV and Film businesses throughout his empire.
I suspect he fears like bird flu, the infection in the newspapers will jump species and the US authorities will demand he be exiled to stop further spreading the News disease.
Anyone would think it is QA, the way they carry on.
Be interesting to hear Ashby’s defense, fear of payback vs personal destruction.
While I can understand his positioning for a new job given Slippers impending deselection but proving his worth by destroying his current boss stuff of an absolute genius (sic).
Have the Libs learned nothing from Grech affair? I doubt Pyne was involved but he certainly became aware probably over a few beers. Rushed gleefully to tell Tony, who probably said woo hoo, not realsing there goes his plausible deniability.
What of the police investigation into cabcharges? These were always less likely to be he said, he said, but whether the police chose or chose not to exert pressure on the alleged recipient of the cab charges?
Sadly Ashby like Grech will likely to be the only one to be let with long term damage, apart from Brough’s potential loss of pre-selection.
Combined with the Jackson/Lawler affair the worm might turn, but the ALP must surely fear a change in leadership as most candidates will be way more popular than Gillard. With LNP having potential to lose the Abbott drag on their vote.
Double leadership change could be on the cards if polls are still awful.
Oh well Marieke will be ever so pleased I’m sure if Pyne’s put in his box over this one.
We really seem at the crossroads, at a critical moment in Australian history. I cannot recall over my lifetime the conservative forces so overtly desperate and aggressive. The truth is rising. Can it be viewed? While Murdoch is investigated he continues to rule. Are Australians still capable of thinking for themselves?
The conservatives are so desperate because their scare campaigns are reaching their use-by dates. What is more, the economy remains stubbornly buoyant much to the consternation of the opposition.
The Abbott experiment has had its day. Time for the Liberal Party to find an acceptable and electable leader.
On the other hand, I’d rather he stays on as opposition leader for the rest of the decade