1. Turnbull's mega donation mocked
Honestly sometimes I think we need to start referring to the PM as Malcolm "Own-Goal" Turnbull.
The multi-millionaire PM, gave a lovely, considered and elegant response when Labor crassly attacked him over his wealth in the early days of his prime ministership.
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"The fact is that Lucy and I have been very fortunate in our lives. We have more wealth than most Australians. That is true; that is absolutely true. We have worked hard, we have paid our taxes, we have given back. I do not believe that my wealth or, frankly, most people's wealth is entirely a function of hard work. Of course, hard work is important, but there are taxi drivers who work harder than I ever have and they do not have much money; there are cleaners who work harder than I ever have or you ever have and they do not have much money.
This country is built upon hard work, people having a go and enterprise. Some of us will be more successful than others. Some of us are fortunate in the turn of business. Some of us are fortunate in the intellect we inherit from our parents. There is a lot of luck in life, and that is why all of us should say, when we see somebody less fortunate than ourselves, there but for the grace of God goes me." [Hansard]
But as is Turnbull's way, he so often undoes his good intentions with shoddy communications and poorly thought out political strategy possibly brought about by his lack of a functioning political antenna that many might say is the result of being "Mr Harbourside Mansion."
Last night's admission that he made what is believed to be the largest ever political donation made in Australian history is a case in point. Turnbull says he puts his money where his mouth is.
As Turnbull himself says, his wealth is out there, everyone knows it, some people even like it, so why on earth the secrecy?
Michelle Grattan focuses on the PM's "coyness" in her column written before Mr Turnbull finally conceded the amount on 730 having refused to give the figure to the National Press Club earlier in the day. [The Conversation]
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull addressed the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday 1 February 2017. Photo: Andrew Meares
This donation was always going to have to be declared, yes far too late under our disclosure laws, so why not own it up-front and immediately? Wouldn't a real-time disclosure have sent a signal that he is a different sort of PM?
Turnbull's actions ridicule his own claim that he is not a political insider. The Sydney Morning Herald editorial is scathing on this particular claim today. [Read]
Weirder still is his attack on Bill Shorten claiming the Labor leader wants to live in his own Harbourside Mansion (Kirribilii House) at taxpayers expense.
Malcolm and Lucy Turnbull's sprawling home in Point Piper. Photo: Edwina Pickles
Not only has Turnbull validated the attack made on him by a former staffer, Peta Credlin, and thereby elevated her, but he's also once again reminded us that he's requiring the federal police to man his personal Harbourside Mansion because he doesn't want to downgrade to Kirribilii. And seriously, does anyone think any political leader is in it for the sole purpose of living at Kirribili?
Liberal backbench MP Craig Kelly. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
One of Turnbull's MPs has joked that the mega donation was clearly one of Turnbull's trademark investments as it secured the Coalition a one-seat majority! Ouch. Labor is harsher, accusing the PM of basically buying his position and the election. [My report/Fairfax]
2. Trump says "go nuclear"
President Donald Trump announces his nomination to the Supreme Court. Photo: AP
With a number of senior Democrats saying they won't support Donald Trump's conservative choice for the Supreme Court, the president made it clear on Wednesday he wants Republicans to set aside convention and take the "nuclear" option to confirm him anyway. [Politico]
US Democrats boycotted moves to advance two of Trump's Cabinet nominees so the Republicans used their absence to their advantage and progressed the nominations for the Treasury and Health and Human Services departments. [Arnie Seipel/NBC News]
Stephen Bannon. Photo: Bloomberg
Studying the figures around Trump is crucial in understanding the Trump administration. My must-read for today is this terrific long-read in The Washington Post on Steve Bannon, the far-right ideologue and former head of Brietbart News. [Frances Stead Sellersm David A. Fahrenthold]
3. Farage trolled
You gotta pay this. UKIP's Nigel Farage was boasting how he gave "both barrels" to the European Commission during a speech in which he called for Donald Trump to address the EU Parliament, naturally. [Cynthia Kroet/Politico.eu]
But it was his Labor opponent Seb Dance who stole the day.
It's all kicking off in the European Parliament pic.twitter.com/w8OWQIIKUL
— Duncan Robinson (@duncanrobinson) February 1, 2017
UKIP, which so hates political correctness, has filed a complaint, reports Adam Payne. [Business Insider]
4. Brexit/Trump
Speaking recently to one Australian departmental official who had seen up close the UK Government's operations, we both remarked how much more mature, proactive and open the Brits are towards informing the media. Australia, I have long thought, has one of the worst approaches when it comes to communications with the government and departments always on the defensive, speaking in acronym heavy, meaningless mumbo jumbo.
Treasurer Scott Morrison pictured in London on 24 January 2017. Photo: Bloomberg
Just take a look at this exchange I had with Scott Morrison when he was in London last week. (I've cut out a bit of the back and forth for brevity but full transcript here).
QUESTION:
Are you going to raise the debt ceiling?
MORRISON: Gross debt will peak at just over 30 per cent of GDP which is a third of what it is in many other developed countries and those issues will have to be accommodated in the normal way.
QUESTION:
What does that mean Treasurer?
TREASURER:
Well it means they will have to be accommodated in the normal way.
I came away from that thinking if a knock-about guy like Scott Morrison, who represents Sydney's Sutherland shire area can't or doesn't want to speak plainly, what hope do we all have in trying to understand our politicians given how difficult it is for them to cut through as it is? If the answer is yes, sure you get a bad story about needing to raise the debt ceiling, but politically slippery language simply compounds the problems biting the political class in the form of the backlash against the establishment we are experiencing today.
As one former MP said to me since retiring from Parliament, I just want to throw something at my television when I hear them speak. Don't they know we can all tell when they dodge and evade?
British Prime Minister Theresa May leaves 10 Downing Street on January 31, 2017. Photo: Jack Taylor
In Britain I find the speaking is more plain, clearer, active and concise.
The Foreign Office has begun regular briefings with the prime minister's team for all foreign correspondents and I attended today's session. Sure the spin was heavy but so was a genuine effort to answer queries and reach out to the reporters shaping coverage from London for the rest of the world. After all, Britain wants to be Global Britain post-Brexit we're told.
Trump and EU were the focus of the questions, obviously. It appears the question of Trump addressing the Parliament is not decided (although it would be very hard to justify denying Trump an honour afforded to Obama, Clinton et al.) [My report/Fairfax]
5. Ukraine
One of the questions at the briefing came from a Russian reporter for the news agency Tass about the conflict that's flared up again in Ukraine.
Russian state media is highlighting the change in tone from the United States now Trump's in power. A story to watch. [Shaun Walker/The Guardian]
6. Bunnings opens in UK on Thursday
Bunnings' first UK warehouse-style store is due to open this weekend - a year after the retailer's $700 million foray into the UK and Ireland. Photo: Twitter
Hilariously the British media are putting sausage sizzle in quotation marks! [Zoe Wood/Bunnings]
And that's it from me for this week. I'm flying back to Australia as you read this to give a speech to my high school in Bathurst - MacKillop College for their 50th anniversary. (I was stoked to be asked and am literally flying back to give the speech and back to London for Monday!)
So even though I think I'll spend more time in the air than I will on the ground in Oz, please do follow me on Facebook for more news fixes until Double Shot returns for your Tuesday morning. Have a great weekend.