How goes that line of yours, Arthur Sinodinos, that One Nation has "evolved "and is "a lot more sophisticated now"? You used it, as you will recall, to justify the Libs rejection of the John Howard policy – to always put One Nation last on preferences – and, in WA, steer Lib preferences to them above Nationals in Saturday's elections. Let's see. Sophisticated?
Just in this last week, we have had Pauline Hanson endorsing the anti-vaccine nutters, accusing the government of a dictatorship, and directly putting the lives of Australian children at risk. We've had her telling porky pies, when denying that she had ever told Perth radio that she would be happy to steer GST payments from Queensland to WA, when in fact she did exactly that in January.
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Protesters outside Pauline Hanson ...
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Raw footage: Protesters outside the Paddington Ale House on Thursday during a One Nation campaign event.
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Mark McGowan outlines some of his plans for WA after Saturday's election victory. Vision courtesy ABC News 24.
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Pauline Hanson blames Colin Barnett for the Liberal Party's poor WA election result.
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Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and opposition leader Bill Shorten give their take on the WA election result. Vision Courtesy ABC News 24.
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Pointing the finger has begun over the wisdom of the decision by the WA Liberal Party to do a preference deal with One Nation. Courtesy ABC News 24.
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Some of the funny and unusual moments of the WA State Election.
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Mark McGowan wins WA Election
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Protesters outside Pauline Hanson campaign event
Raw footage: Protesters outside the Paddington Ale House on Thursday during a One Nation campaign event.
And we've had the usual noise from the rabble she runs with one of her own candidates Ray Gould resigning on Tuesday, saying it "It's just power and money, [for Pauline.] She wants to be the watchdog of Australia politics, but it's all for money, no consideration for people. She threw us away like a dirty rag. It's a scam. The public are getting smashed."
Where is the sophistication, Mr Sinodinos? Where is the single well-thought-out policy that is more than a brain-fart of empty sloganeering?
Red carpet fever
Meantime, now that Colin Barnett's government is being thrown out by the people of WA after Saturday's election – despite their outrageous deal-making with One Nation – his political eulogy will be being written as we speak.
His legacy? I am not sure. But, personally, I will always fancy him as an exemplar of the politician who got red-carpet fever. The one-time strong republican, publicly thanked by Malcolm Turnbull for his efforts in the 1999 referendum, visited the Queen in late 2011. Shortly thereafter he announced that when it came to naming the billion-dollar quay built on the Swan River, he could think of no one better, no really, than "Elizabeth Quay" to name it after.
Presumably because, after all, she is someone who has received insufficient recognition in her lifetime, and we all know that WA has produced no one in their recorded history worthy of venerating in that manner. It still takes my breath away!
Explanations needed
Of course I accept the verdict of the three appeal judges, in 2012, that Gordon Wood is innocent and did not murder Caroline Byrne, by throwing her from the Gap on June 8, 1995. Wood, as you will recall, though initially found guilty, was released from jail when those judges overturned his conviction. Wood is now suing the state for his wrongful imprisonment.
I repeat, I accept his innocence.
But, I would still love to know how it was that Wood, on the night in question, was able to guide, first her brother and then the police to the exact spot on the cliff above where her body was found.
Wood's previous explanation that "her spirit guided [me]" I cannot fathom. Equally astounding was the evidence that Wood claimed to be able to see her body in the darkness below, and even know what she was wearing, when neither Byrne's brother, nor the police, could see a single thing. Perhaps all will be revealed in his current case.
Never mind the language
I knew the Australian's cartoonist Bill Leak very well, and was a close friend up until 15 or so years ago when we simply drifted.
Colossally talented, driven, passionate for his craft my fondest memories will be of him talking of his resentment that there were not more hours in the day, days in the week, and weeks in the year so he could indulge in his great passion which was his work.
I will equally always recall being stunned about 20 years ago at a dinner at Bill's place in Bondi, by two things. Firstly what fine sons he was raising, in Jasper and Johannes. Engaged, warm, musical, surfers, intellects, they were knockouts. And secondly, by the bad language Bill used in their presence.
When I congratulated Bill on the Monday over what a great job he and his first wife Astrid had done in raising them, but questioned his swearing, he said, with great wisdom: "I will not be two people, one for the world, and one for my sons. I am what I am."
Never forgot it, and went on to raise my three the same way. Vale, Bill.
Joke of the week
An Englishman, Welshman, Scotsman and Irishman are captured while fighting in a far off foreign land and the leader of the captors says "We're going to line you up in front of a firing squad and shoot you all in turn. But first, you can each make a final request."
The Scotsman says "I'd like to hear the Flower of Scotland just one more time to remind me of the auld country, played on the bagpipes in the style of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards."
The Irishman says "I'd like to hear Danny Boy just one more time to remind me of the auld country sung in the style of Daniel O'Donnell with the Riverdance dancers skipping gaily to the tune."
The Welshman says "I'd like to hear Men of Harlech just one more time to remind me of the auld country, sung as if by the Aberavon Male Voice Choir."
The Englishman says "I'd like to be shot first."
They said it
"Our opponents, the media and the whole world will soon see as we begin to take further actions, that the powers of the president to protect our country are very substantial and will not be questioned."
Trump adviser Stephen Miller, shrilly, to US interviewer, last month.
"We cannot afford for our democratic institutions to be consumed by a bonfire of lies, innuendos, and conspiracy theories . . . We are the people of the United States. Our great nation is in a perilous moment, and the world is watching with great unease. We want the truth. We demand the truth. We can handle the truth."
Dan Rather, iconic American TV anchorman, on the Age of Trump.
"We're working on a package for the budget. It will deal with the challenges in housing affordability from those who are reliant on social housing in our community, all the way through to those who are trying to break into the first home ownership market."
Treasurer Scott Morrison, assuring us that everything will be fine, stop worrying, he's got it all in hand.
"The only people talking about Pauline Hanson, with great respect, are the media. No one else is."
WA premier Colin Barnett, to the media, trying to downplay Hanson's presence in Perth stirring up trouble at his election.
"Malcolm Turnbull is down in the polls again and, oh my God, we're having a national conversation about terrorism again. I mean, this is just getting boring."
Van Badham, Guardian Australia, about the idea that Australia should have Dept of Homeland Security.
Twitter: Peter_Fitz
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