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📣Margo Kingston💧🔥 Profile picture
@margokingston1
Mar 2, 2021 • 508 tweets • >60 min read • Read on X
8. Searingly honest and revelatory account of the a good journalist’s internal voices on a story like this, and the external constraints on publication. I RELATED BIG TIME.

Superb, Tory. I would have made the same decision as you for the same reason, until she’ ready let it be.
9. Succinct summary of investigation state of play by @osbornep

10. Backgrounder thread by @CroweDM on the NSW Police statement closing its investigation.
11. Response by the women’s solicitor that the NSW Police statement ending its investigation.
12. The woman’s solicitor’s take on state of play - over to Morrison only one day after he hid behind the Police. Image
The woman’s solicitor demands a public judicial inquiry - wow!!!

His states his case in a @CrikeyNews column.
14. Greg Hunt hasn’t updated his talking points, or is just a shameless prevaricator even on a matter this serious.
15. Still getting up to speed - @JacquelineMaley on the Please Explain podcast says story was to be centrepiece of the 4Corners show, withdrawn for legal reasons. Can’t be true that Morrison didn’t know who, can it?

podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ple…
16. The @meadea report on Govt’s questions stonewall to @4corners and political pressure on the ABC to can the program. The alleged 1988 rape was the planned centrepiece - Morrison MUST have known who.or his leadership style is to know nothing..

google.com.au/amp/s/amp.theg…
17. NEW: The AFP Commissioner confirms he CANNOT investigate - no jurisdiction, blowing Morrison’s dodge yesterday out of the water. He’s naked now. An @AmyRemeikis thread:- ImageImage
18. Bookmark the transcript of Morrison’s election teaser yesterday. Got a feeling it contains lies as well as his mendacious buck pass:- ImageImageImage
19. Why on earth would Barnaby weigh in? Didn’t the National Party at least pretend to examine the @roseycatherine allegation of sexual harassment against him? google.com.au/amp/s/amp.smh.…
20. So the Govt CAN move quickly to reform the workplace when they have absolutely no other political choice. They’re on the run & @BrittHiggins_ has her first positive outcome before any inquiry.
21. Got a feeling the #womensmarch in Canberra on International Women’s day might be quite big this year. Both Houses sitting on March 15.
22.Minister backgrounds journos that he’ll speak tomorrow, won’t stand down. True tomorrow? Fast moving story with strong determined forces dug in both sides. eg PM do nothing v last PM stand down, have an inquest. Protect the bloke v believe the woman enough to have a look.
23. Morrison digs in overnight - plan floated to journos is Minister doesn’t stand down and Morrison won’t have an inquiry.

To me backgrounding inappropriate in this case - direct communication is vital with stakes and distrust of Govt so high. No time for Canberra games.
24. Minister might declare innocence, threaten defo action to silence woman’s lawyers/friends. Big test - will he take questions? @JuliaGillard precedent: When Abbott accused her of unethical AWU dealings as a lawyer she answered questions at a presser till there were no more.
25. Another issue - will Minister face the Press Gallery, the journos on top of the story, or do a quick doorstop outside Canberra? imo he can’t be a coward or try a Morrison spin & dodge play.

@JuliaGillard’s long presser killed Abbott’s smear .

abc.net.au/news/2012-11-2…
26. Tonight’s report by @samanthamaiden, the lead Press Gallery reporter on the ever growing, deepening story triggered by @BrittHiggins_
27. Very happy that @Rob_Stott also thinks it stinks that the Minister & Govt choose to background reporters instead of telling the public direct what’s happening. Standard political games like floating stuff to see what happens is way out of order on this story.
28. Did any press gallery journalist refuse condition of Minister or his agents that they agree it’s ‘on background’? I would have refused - ffs journos won’t tell the public who he is but do his bidding for mere access stories? This story is not amenable to insider games.
29. BIG NEWS: @latingle reports the SA Coroner told her SA police are investigating the woman’s death AT HIS DIRECTION. The coronial process in SA leading to an inquest:- courts.sa.gov.au/OurCourts/Coro… ImageImage
30. So Minister or his agents leak tit bits on background and press gallery journos dutifully run his play (a floater?) but get no detail??? Come on, they’re being used to massage the story by an alleged rapist journos won’t ID yet ye play insider access games with? Come on! Image
31. The essential nightly @latingle report.
32. I wonder how many press gallery journos considered the Cabinet Minister or his agents’ motive in requiring anonymous sourcing? Image
3. SBS timeline.
4. Cutting response to the @CUhlmann case to do nothing by @rgcooke
35. COMMENT: White hot rage at the PM and his Govt from @georgiedent presages a momentous Women’s Day gathering at Parliament House on March 15.

womensagenda.com.au/latest/prime-m…
36. Morrison began with a lie, writes @georgiedent in a piece I recommend. Stand out exposition of the reasons for the rage his closed eyes, lies and back turn have engendered in so many women.

womensagenda.com.au/latest/prime-m… Image
37. Paul Kelly’s take. Opposes inquiry, says Minister must convince public of innocence to survive.

Tough call, but I’d want an inquiry on the Keifel model if I was an innocent Minister. The saga has become archetypal, as Kelly notes, too big to walk away from.
38. Australian of the Year Grace Tam on PM’s say/act disconnect. A Big Moment before the Minister’s statement.
39. Breathtakingly pointed response by Grace Tam to how Morrison connected with @BrittHiggins_’s story:-
40. Porter dodges a Canberra press gallery press conference - not game to take questions by the journos on top of the story who’ll insist on straight answers?

Less than an hour’s notice for local reporters to prep, get there.

Looks like a coward’s con - we’ll see...
41. The Porter alert. Never seen a requirement to get to press conference 15 minutes early and be escorted to room. Seems odd, cuts time to prep even more, chance for minders to set rules? Any idea why @Paul_Karp?
42. An answer to the gather early, get escorted up Porter requirement, from journo @suelapp. Maybe I’m getting too cynical but it’s hard not to with this Govt, especially the @BrittHiggins_ led story. So many lies and evasions.
43. If Porter is not open and hides behind threats of defamation teeth will be pulled in Parliament. Senate Questions on notice to Porter from #Watergate Indie @Senator_Patrick
44. Porter says he met the woman briefly at a debate competition, they never slept together, they were never alone together & he had no further contact with her. He’s says he’s never been informed of the allegations or asked to answer them, inc by journos!
45. Porter will not stand down, will stay Attorney-General and opposes an inquiry with PM’s full support. Can’t quite understand why -

Extraordinary that he’s never seen the allegations or asked to respond. Looks like PM told truth he wasn’t substantially aware pre @4corners
47. Perth media sent their best and Porter stands there answering every question directly. He’s giving himself the best chance possible to survive. Doing a Gillard after the AWU allegations.
48. Porter says he was 17, had a girlfriend, did not sleep with anyone during 1988 event & has no idea why she’d make up her allegations.

“I remember her as a bright, happy person.”

Walks out amid questioning. Gillard left when there were no more.

He’s taking 2 weeks off.
49. Porter says one thing the woman alleged is true-
50.
51. NEW: SA Coroner David Whittle tells cops to resume their investigation after they gave him an ‘incomplete report’ and does not rule out ordering an inquest.
62. Barrister MP for Warringah @zalistegall says PM should order investigation:
* Australians must be satisfied Porter a fit & proper person to hold high public office
* surprised he doesn’t want inquiry to clear his name
* surprised PM didn’t read accuser’s statement #730Report
63. The @CUhlmann editorial insists criminal law is the only right way to test the woman’s allegation.
64. How about 2 lists, who is for an inquiry, who against. Please add.

For
* @AusWomenLawyers
* the woman’s lawyer @marquelawyers
* her friends, including 2 at the 1988 event
* Labor, Greens
* @zalisteggall

Against

Porter
PM
Treasurer
@CUhlmann
Paul Kelly
65. So everyone thought the NSW cops would interview Porter but they never did.
66. Porter amends his startling false claim, made in his written statement (!) that no journo put allegations to him in or sought his response. In fact he didn’t return calls or respond to emails or texts. Hmmm... Image
67. Porter’s spokesman admits he didn’t tell the truth at his press conference. Unfortunate.

Will he issue a press conference transcript?
67. Your essential nightly @latingle report. A highlight: blow by blow counter to Porter’s claim the rule law would disappear if he stood down by Kathleen Foley, Vic barrister who knew him at the time.

abc.net.au/7.30/christian…
68. The @murpharoo report corrects Porter’s false claim that no media contacted him for a response to the allegations. Truth is he refused to speak to media. Bad way to engender trust in your veracity. Worth it for the false claims airing on TV news reports tonight? Image
69. Porter’s blatantly false claim as transcribed by @ljayes.
70. According to @meadea’s report the ABC did try to contact Porter before its scoop on Friday and before the @4corners story. If she’s right Porter’s partial retraction is also false. Jeez...
71. @murpharoo with case for inquiry. Odd Porter-Morrison don’t want one given her lawyers, friends and @AusWomenLawyers insist.

So Media will have the job of checking his statements, incl that he was never alone with her, yet Porter says he doesn’t want trial by media. Odd.
72. @JacquiLambie backs Inquiry.

google.com.au/amp/s/amp.smh.… Image
73. An ABC public service - full transcript of the Porter press conference (he hasn’t put one out).
Thanks @SallyRMelb

google.com.au/amp/s/amp.abc.…
74. Linda Reynolds called Ms Higgins ‘a lying cow’, but in Parliament wouldn’t answer questions to respect her right to privacy, a right Ms Higgins had explicitly waived.

The never ending cover up - Reynolds, PM, Dutton - why?
75. The Grattan assessment - I too was surprised he didn’t lay out his interaction with the woman in his opener, left it to journos to draw him out. Image
76. NEW: After refusing to comment to the Oz (true to Morison Govt form) Reynolds admits by not denying she called Ms Higgins “a lying cow”.
77. Porter has a history of falsely claiming journalists did not contact him before publishing. He’s a repeat offender. Via @meadea

theguardian.com/australia-news… Image
78. The Federal Liberal Party once attracted so many women it trebled the numbers of its female MPs in 1996. Then the hard right crushed liberals. My @Echonetdaily column on how woman are trying to open another door. #independentsday @Indigocathy @JohnRHewson #gettingelected ImageImage
79. No wonder women are bloody ANGRY. Frydenberg says only police ‘are authorised to decide the veracity (truth) of sexual assault allegations’. BULLSHIT.

Police investigate & if they believe enough evidence to charge they refer to prosecutors. COPS DIDN’T INTERVIEW PORTER.
80. Frydenberg says no inquiry because ONLY AUTHORISED BODY to deal with these matters is the police.” BULLSHIT.

PM is literally outsourcing his leadership responsibility to cops whose role is to decide whether there’s enough admissible evidence to refer case to DPP.
81. You’ve got a choice, rage at the relentless mendacity, obfuscation and coverup or smile at the humiliating unravelling of people who once, one would imagine, had self respect.

Morrison’s pathetic envoy this morning is Josh Frydenberg.
82. WTF IS #ScottyfromMarketing (how can anyone call him a PM at this stage) on about??? The Rule of Law has nothing to do with whether Porter should stand down while an inquiry occurs. Definitions from the Oz Rule of Law Education Centre:

ruleoflaw.org.au/what-is-the-ru… ImageImageImage
83. The relevance of the Rule of Law to Porter is that the Govt cannot deprive him of his liberty on basis of an allegation - only Courts can. We have the rule of law, not of men.

Morrison’s mutation: Because Porter won’t charged he must stay AG. He’s vacated his leadership. Image
84. @SamClench cuts down Morrison’s Rule of Law canard more succinctly than I did.
85. Who are the tribes? Is he implying a gender war? Because he’s been bloody well provoking that since the day the @BrittHiggins_ story broke.

Who’s in his ‘tribe’, the no inquiry one?

Christian. Josh. Bolt. Uhlmann. Paul Kelly.

Barnaby & Malcolm are in the other one.
86. Which is why he hides behind cops, Rule of Law furphy. As he always does (think his dept head). He doesn’t want to lead, he wants to market. This time he’s igniting a gender war - does he think that helps him politically, @AmyRemeikis?
97. Morrison’s way of starting with the presumption ‘believe the women’.

1. Don’t read her statement.

2. Say it’s up to AFP when they’re powerless.

3. Pretend NSW cops decided truth when didn’t interview Porter.

5. Refuse to call inquiry.

6. Call her lawyer & friends a mob
98. My @Echonetdaily column on the PMs sexual abuse conflagration, the exodus of women from his Party-room & the emergence of a new way for women to serve as MPs. #gettingelected @zalisteggall @Indigocathy @JacquiLambie @MakeMayoMatter @helenhainesindi
echo.net.au/2021/03/rapey-…
99. Detailed NSW police statement. NO investigation. Because she died before making a formal statement case closed due to no admissible evidence, no Porter interview. Morrison and Frydenberg claimed ms that police decided the truth of the matter is a flat out lie.
100. Could a journo ask Morrison what he thinks ‘the Rule of Law’ is? I’m a lawyer and I have no idea what he’s on about.
101. Last time a PM called Australians who disagreed with him ‘a mob’ was Howard, about people in our biggest ever protest march - against invading Iraq.

‘The mob’ included Fraser, Hawke, Whitlam, Hewson & 2 former defence force chiefs.

From Not Happy John:-

I see parallels. ImageImage
102. Women’s lawyer make obvious point that ‘PM’s’ leadership fail guarantees trial by media as her supporters insist on an inquiry, He must know that, so does he think he’ll win politically by stoking a war with women?

Anyone dispute Porter’s claim he was never alone with her?
103. Morrison’s judgement is so off & his justification for doing nothing so ridiculous you have to wonder what’s behind it. Did Porter threaten to resign from Parliament if he wasn’t left in place w no inquiry? WTF is going on?
104. GAMECHANGER: The woman’s family backs Turnbull inquest call.

They support “any inquiry which would potentially shed light on the circumstances surrounding the deceased’s passing”.

An inquest is public & could find out why she dropped police complaint just before her death.
105. The @samanthamaiden tweet in 104 has been deleted. Here’s the woman’s family statement attached to that tweet:- Image
106. Sam’s blockbuster story on the woman’s family’s first public statement - they want an Inquest.
107. SA Coroner David Whittle will order an Inquest “if he believes that the cause or circumstances of death are a matter of substantial public importance”. He takes the deceased’s family’s request for an inquest and their reasons into account.

courts.sa.gov.au/OurCourts/Coro… Image
108. Hmm, did I read the family’s statement too narrowly? It said they support ‘any inquiry’ into the circumstances surrounding her death - that could include a Parliamentary, judicial or other inquiry called by the PM? If so Morrison can’t call them part of “the mob”, surely...
109. Morrison’s refusal to call an inquiry is world news.
110. Women get it, #ScottyfromMarketing
111. Ms Higgins calls out #ScottyfromMarketing’s defence of Reynolds.
112. Women in the press gallery are transforming coverage of the political reckoning, blowing up #ScottyfromMarketing’s spin and revealing a little of the insider boys mutual back scratch game. Inspiring to watch.

Pieces I wrote in 1996 - how far the Liberal Party has fallen. ImageImage
Hats off to @GoldingCartoons. The shirt is genius.
Full @BrittHiggins_ statement on PM’s’ defence of Reynolds.
115. So good that @zalisteggall, who spoke at last weekend’s @Indigocathy #gettingelected conference has stepped up to advocate hard for an inquiry. #IndependentsDay
116. A reminder that Christian Porter is a serial trasher of the Rule of Law as AG.
117. Oh look, @VoicesofPearce joined Twitter this month! @moylan_judi was a fabulous MP for Pearce, maybe a community independent can follow in her footsteps. #IndependentsDay

Unless a redistribution cancels the seat.
119. The premier legal group advocating for #federalicac weighs in on the Morrison/Porter abuse of the Rule of Law principle to justify avoiding an inquiry. They’re charlatans, simple as that.
120. There must be unstoppable momentum for an inquiry because a wary Albanese has finally firmly stepped up. Morrison’s is very, very wrong if he thinks ‘the tribes’ are party political on this matter.
122. A sign Morrison is in trouble with women in blue ribbon heartland. Trent Zimmerman, MP for North Sydney & under pressure from indie community group @VofNorthSydney, pops his head up unexpectedly.
123. Someone just offered me a lift to Canberra for the #womensmarch on March 15. Hadn’t thought to - anyone else making the trek to let the Govt know what they think of his behaviour?
125. I reckon now’s a good time Wayne. How about the ‘Voices for’ groups ask their r Lib or Nat MP whether he thinks there should be an inquiry, let me know how you go? Check out @VoicesForAU which curates the movement. #IndependentsDay @Indigocathy @_Oliver_Yates @deniseshrivell
126. WOW. Go @BrittHiggins_
127. Morrison standing beside Australian of the year Grace Tame inspired @BrittHiggins_ to speak up and now look what’s happened while he refuses an inquiry.
google.com.au/amp/s/www.pede… Image
128. Thread broke after 7, have now linked to 8 at the end of it. Here’s 1

129. Wanna march on Women’s Day March 15?
130. The @BrittHiggins_ legal letter to her former boss Linda Reynolds.
131. The @ccroucher9 wrap of another extraordinary day, way too many major developments to explain the meaning of Morrison’s Rule of Law mantra :)
132. Welcome back @Drag0nista. The revolution got me back on Twitter full time too (stop soon). Here’s Paula’s indepspnesable guide to the Liberal Party’s ever worsening culture for women. She was a John Howard staffer and knows her history.
133. Law Professor @profbensaul on why the Rule of Law is not threatened by an inquiry and ASSISTS due process.

It’s a mystery to me why Porter doesn’t want one if he’s innocent.
134. Top lawyers, including #IndependentsDay Warringah MP @zalisteggall, have called out the Morrison/Frydenberg/Porter rubbish that an inquiry threatens the Rule of Law. It’s a dodge, folks, so what’s the real reason?
135. #transitzone podcast colleague @timdunlop on why the integrity of our Democratic system requires an independent inquiry. So basic, but under Morrison it needs to be explained.
13. You can tell a Liberal Govt is in trouble when John Howard has to weigh in.
137. Hartcher: Morrison and Porter fail the character test.

smh.com.au/national/respo… Image
138. GASP, MOUTH OPEN IN SHOCK. Porter changes his story - now says he may have met the woman after the Debate event in 1998.

2nd time he’s changed his story - last night had to retract unequivocal claim no journo had contacted him about the allegation.
139. If there was inquiry Porter could be questioned in private. His decision to oppose one, granted by the PM, means journos must ask the questions. My bet is @samanthamaiden doesn’t want to have to do this and neither to other journos.
140. Back to 75. it was strange Porter didn’t state what he says his contact with the woman was in his opener. Why wait till questions to draw out the crucial info? He’s a former prosecutor and had top legal advice.

Something is wrong here.
141. Imagine this. Story breaks, Porter steps up, says he’s innocent, asks police to interview him, stands aside till he’s cleared.

I’m mystified by Porter’s method if he’s innocent/has nothing to hide - an AG saddled with an unexamined rape allegation is crippled
142. Oh. Porter retracted his statement that he never spoke to the woman after the Jan 88 debating event when a witness backed the woman’s claim that they’d met again in the early 1990s.

+ more friends go on record to seek inquiry, say they believe her. Lead byline @Paul_Karp Image
143. Your essential @latingle nightly report.

Enjoying the nightly remarks by the woman’s friend Jo Dyer.

abc.net.au/7.30/calls-con…
144. ACTIVATE: Historian @MichelleArrow1 wrote a book on the 1970s & reckons like that era’s women’s liberation movement we need to turn anger into political action now. Gee I’d love to see an all ages gathering at Parliament House on March 15.
145. The @michellegrattan weekly wrap, and what a week! Reynolds is extending her leave.
146. Sharp.
147. Sharper.
149. Checked into Sky tonight and Alan Jones/Bolt running Morrison’s anti-inquiry Rule of Law mantra hard. The @Qldaah take on Morrison’s play-
150. Imagine he did it...
151. The 1988 debate team believe her.
151. Top drawer contemplation.
152. Sam’s piece made me think long and hard about there I stand now there’s no prospect Morrison will resolve this horrific quandary.

I think she’s right that an inquest is both the only way for closure and the preferable option. A few thoughts follow, yours?
153. If no inquest is called the wound festers and Trial by Media continues.

REASON 1. The woman’s friends - more go on the record each day - will not stop campaigning. They believe she told the truth and they want her story examined. They’re committed to being her voice.
154. Reason 2.

Her friends’ advocacy embodies the zeitgeist for women - enough is enough and it’s time to victims to speak up and for other women to back them up. To believe them. Morrison’s hand-wash response has literalised the culture problem they are determined to transform
155. Reason 3.

The narrative is compelling & highly charged symbolically whoever you believe or if, like me, you’re undecided. There’s high demand for stories from journalism-based & propaganda media. Add conspiracies/misinfomation and surely everyone wants to lance the boil?
156. So, save a swift and humiliating about face by Morrison, the alternatives are:

* let the story go where it will and see what happens; or

* an Inquest into the circumstances surrounding her death.

Why could an inquest be better than an inquiry?
157. How an inquest lances the boil.

1. Fact finding not adversarial.

2. Coroner presides so it’s inside the legal system, satisfying Porter’s backers.

3. Public so the people can see/read reports of justice in action.

4. Porter would presumably volunteer to give evidence.
158. NEW: Morrison neutral on an Inquest, says it would be up to Porter to decide whether to volunteer to testify.

So the ball is now in SA Coroner David Whittle’s court. Imagine the pressure he’s under...
159. Sharp
160. WOW, hard -right loses big time, HUGE WIN for @BrittHiggins_, who led the charge for transformational change.

What PM wanted: An internal coalition inquiry by a Liberal MP.

What he got: Sweeping independent inquiry run by the hard-right DEMONISED @AusHumanRights.
161. I bet @Birmo had a ball negotiating for a genuinely bipartisan inquiry. And I bet fellow moderate @MarisePayne is smiling too.

Why? They’ve been under the heels of the hard right for a long time on women. Govt must be in deep shit to agree to this. @Drag0nista
162. @MarisePayne, moderate survivor, feminist, women’s minister, on the @BrittHiggins_ workplace inquiry. Hi Marise! ImageImageImageImage
163. Over to David Whittle, SA Coroner. Scope of the inquest, if called, would be key to its ability to cauterise the wound this story has opened up.
164. My uncut take on the horror and PROMISE of this moment for women and our democracy. The “Voices for” community independents movement is gearing up to take on safe seat Coalition MPs and it’s attracting women of all political colours. #gettingelected #IndependentsDay.
165. Two Morrison Ministers at 1988 debating event. A tight, elite world coming into view - aspiring politicians, mostly private school, debate (I was in a State school team that shocked 'em by getting in the finals; we won on substance lost on polish).
166. Agree, @murpharoo. A friend & her friends will do their first women's march in Sydney to #march45justice and hell, I'm going to Canberra for my first ever. Young women are leading this and they're FEARLESS - Ms Tame, Ms Higgins, Ms Contos.
167. NEW from @KarenMMiddleton: Dossier says woman’s 6 debating teammates “are in possession of additional corroborative evidence”. NSW police closed the file without interviewing them or Porter.

thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/…
168. Memories of Abbott's "Ditch the Witch" appearance at a Parliament House anti-carbon tax rally, thoughts on the #March4Justice women's protest to come. The @latingle column.

169. Young women's anger cuts deep into Morrison's protection of Porter from any examination of the rape allegation against him. .By @KZiwica

His words and actions have triggered this rage and at this point you have to assume he knows what he's doing.

@KZiwica 170. @bairdjulia : A large part of the reason #MeToo happened, and was played out in the media by rape survivors and investigative journalists, was because the law has not protected women, and has in myriad ways failed victims of sexual assault."
171. Bowled over by young women’s passion & steely logic on PMs ‘Rule of Law’ whitewash.

Ms Pemberton:

‘His current “hands tied lest he destroy the fabric of democracy’’ stance is a flat out lie.’

“It’s decision time. Will you turn up or tune out.”
theshot.net.au/national/is-mo…
182. The Oz specialises in trial by media - who can forget its endless persecution of Gillard for pre-politics AWU legal issues lan Abbott ROYAL COMMISSION cleared her).

When it comes to pile-ons no media is more single-minded or relentless: a men only Porter support team.
183. Pity the Oz didn’t publish an actual lawyer on its Rule of Law mantra as block to an examination of the woman’s allegations. Geoffrey Watson SC:- Image
184. @MargaretSimons explores a point I made yesterday - female journalists have transformed political coverage of the story (as have the young women leading ithe movement for change). For the old way see the all-male PM/Porter support group in the Oz. A must read for mine. Image
185. The woman’s friend @instanterudite corrects reports suggesting she only remembered after ‘repressed memory’ therapy. AGAIN asks for inquiry. So exhausting advocating for something so basic to avoid media trial. PM is making this happen, no one wants it except PM & Porter.
186. @vanOnselenP repeated Porters false claim that journos did not put allegations to him before publishing@o. #Insiders & his Oz column. Porter had already retracted that, now says ABC didn’t before scoop. He didn’t check with ABC - see @meadea report.
187. @vanOnselenP might also consider that Porter has form lying about journos not contacting him before stories - he did same to @4corners before November report. Why does Peter blindly accept Porter’s word - his Oz column defamed journalist colleagues.
188. Why WOULDN’T @vanOnselenP give Porter the dossier? Police file is closed. He just falsely blasted journos for not doing so. Why hasn’t PM given it to him? FFS Porter passionately protested he hadn’t seen allegation details - ask PM for them! This story freakishly mystifying
189. No-one of substance should take Oz seriously on Porter. Rails against trial by media to protect political friends; prosecutor, judge and executioner to destroy political enemies. See Oz-led baseless AWU jihad against Gillard. @MargaretSimons Image
180. @annabelcrabb & @murpharoo forensic, intense, controlled and took no crap from @vanOnselenP, whose arrogant smugness, strong implication that the accusers dossier was false & error-ridden defence of Porter told its own story. See @MargaretSimons column.
181. No-one knows what happened. Of course Porter is in a difficult position, innocent or not. PM said with feeling ‘believe women’ = read her story and make inquiries.

She’s dead; many friends are her voice now and that’s all they’ve asked PM to do - make inquiries. #insiders
182. Here’s how @bairdjulia puts the case for the PM to call an inquiry.
183. Just as likely they got political advice NOT to read dossier - a way not to engage at all, play fake Rule of Law card to wash hands & ignore, move on. It ain’t working though, is it. The way they play intensifies suspicion they’re doing cover up - mystifying if they’re not.
184. Paul Kelly’s column falsely claimed rape allegation had been politically weaponised.

False, it is NOT Party political. It’s driven by friends of the woman, who like Porter moved in upper middle class circles.

Their inquiry call is backed by most women across party lines.
185. Good questions for @vanOnselenP to ask his friend. @DrCraigEmerson I’ve also asked him why he hasn’t given the dossier to Porter. Can’t see a reason why not, you?
186. Compelling #insiders. Best I’ve watched. No ‘the politics of’ smarm, no cynical insider takes. Rigorous, on merits, deep awareness of the importance of the issues. @vanOnselenP’s smirk attitude & inaccuracies very telling. Felt like I was watching the fall of a wall.
197. 187. I wonder why. At least when I block I explain why to the Tweep I block. #insiders Image
198. Been thinking more about @vanOnselenP on #insiders:

* why was he upset he was asked to disclose his friendship with Porter? ‘I’m not a member of the communist Party’ crap.

* if I was a friend of his or hers I’d recuse from reporting story. Who wouldn’t apart from him?
199. More delay in Reynolds answering questions
120. I wouldn’t report a story adversely implicating a friend, let alone a close friend, for ethical & personal reasons. Conflict of interest & personally fraught. Friends support friends, not report their travails.

Why did you ask @vanOnselenP on today, @InsidersABC? #insiders
121. Has @vanOnselenP even considered his ethical obligations given Porter is a close personal friend?

Has @Channel10AU? No way should he be reporting, & commentary is way too fraught as today showed.

#Insiders did ask him to disclose, which he resented, but why choose him?
122. @vanOnselenP effectively admits he shouldn’t be reporting or commentating on the Porter matter; @marg_hutton shows.

And another thing - how many public figures are lucky enough to have a leading journalist FRIEND cover their travails. Come on!
123. The @InsidersABC executive producer and @David_Speers need to answer this question. #insiders
124. @vanOnselenP final observation, @annabelcrabb response.

Last of several glaring reasons he shouldn’t have been on #insiders or reporting this story at all. How about being a friend to your friend and letting unconflicted journos report the story for your viewers, readers?
125. #insiders
126. Timely reminder
127. This looks way too convenient for Senator Reynolds. If she really wants to be accountable how about agreeing to answer written estimates and Senate questions in a timely manner, say within a day or two? @samanthamaiden
198. So bloody good. They saw Mr take-up-all-the-space & told him to back off. @vanOnselenP archetyped the elite entitled white male character, & so contemptuous of the fact he was ethically compromised. I’ve changed my mind - I’m glad #insiders forgot ethics & had him on.
199. @wendy_harmer is mystified by numbering of this thread. Don’t be - all over shop, I promise to slow down, do a better self-edit. Also not to follow this incredible story full time, have a life, margo...

I will continue this thread as an in-the-moment record, hope you like.
200. @wendy_harmer suggested the thread is a diary. Yeah, my Twitter diary of a story so compelling, multi layered, sprawling, symbolic & important politically, legally, socially & culturally that the nation is participating. Damnit, thought I’d beaten my Twitter addiction...
201. More sounds of the wall falling. Another @GregHuntMP talking point humiliation. Is the latest PM spin to avoid taking responsibility REALLY that the SA Coroner might decide, at some time, to have an inquest? Rule of Law crap not working any more?
202. 1 minute that tells the story of this moment.
203. @4corners part 2 tomorrow night.
294. Sorry to nag, but @vanOnselenP not only doesn’t understand it is unethical to report/commentate on a story when a personal friend is adversely impacted but when called on it he slurs other journalists. Is he in the @meaa? Does he consider himself bound by the code of ethics? Image
205. The CNN wrap
207. I remember this brutal Oz trial by media of @MargaretSimons for a made-up conflict of interest.

@vanOnselenP, journalism professor, piled on in vicious personal terms.

Now he can’t see a problem reporting/commentating on a story where a CLOSE FRIEND is implicated. Image
208. Big name journo with a lot of power seeking accountability for politicians ought to comply with the basics of journalism’s - indeed most profession’s - conflict of interest ethics, right?

Or is @vanOnselenP untouchable? Image
209. Just checking if @vanOnselenP really is a law unto himself that unbound by ethical conflict of interest obligations to recuse when a story adversely implicates a close personal friend.
210. Thinking about friendship’s meaning before @4corners.

Here’s poet @whytedw:

An enduring friendship goes on after death, the exchange only transmuted by absence, the relationship advancing and maturing on a silent, internal conversational way...

thevalueofsparrows.wordpress.com/2018/10/22/wor… Image
211. @wordsnnerds_pod interviews 3 women who wrote essays for the @FremantlePress ‘Women of a Certain Rage’ collection of essays. @evacox @clairegcoleman and @RenPettittS

“Let us go forth with fear and courage amd rage to save the world.’ #March4Justice
podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/wor…
212. Former Liberal ACT chief minister, current small business ombudsman @KateCarnellAus calls for an independent inquiry: “We need to clear the air. I don’t think it’s going to go away without an independent investigation.”
213. George Karzis, another of the woman’s friends at the 1988 event (and in her SA debating team) steps up, demands an inquiry, warns a coronial inquest may not cover the allegations.

By @Paul_Karp, leading the reporting for @GuardianAus Image
214. Main devts today: PM tells Women’s Minister @MarisePayne to back him on no inquiry, NSW police commissioner Fuller - floated as Lib candidate for Hughes - speculates that even if she was alive case would struggle to be prosecuted. WHY? How would he know before investigation?
215. Revolting: School girls detail horror Craig Kelly office culture. Thanks so much for saving him from de-selection by the local Party, PM. Go for it @HumansOfHughes - hope you find a great community candidate #HughesVotes

Lead reporter @GraceTobin #730report
216. Over to you, voters in safe Liberal seats. Can you attract community independents like @zalisteggall @helenhainesindi or @MakeMayoMatter to represent YOU? @VoicesWentworth @HumansOfHughes @VofNorthSydney @GoldsteinVoices @MackellarVoices @VoicesBradfield

#IndependentsDay
217. @SharmanStone 1 of many Liberal women elected in 1996. Her career foundered when she defended her voters after Abbott decided to abandon SPC in her seat. It’s tragic Libs lost quality MPs like Sharman. nofibs.com.au/women-are-flee… #IndependentsDay
218. Nothing new of any significance on @4corners. Don’t see the point of it, actually.
219. Former Solicitor-General Gleeson suggests PM ask the current one to advise whether to call an inquiry. Ain’t gunna happen.
220. You going to Canberra @julia_zemiro? I’m driving to Sydney, getting a lift with @deniseshrivell from there. I’d like to meet you :)

Never been to a woman’s march. I want to support the fierce young women taking on the good old boys and making them squirm. Breakthrough.
221. Community independent @zalisteggall represents blue ribbon Warringah. She’s actually REPRESENTING her electorate’s values by trying to end loopholes protecting judges and MPs from sex discrimination laws.
@VofNorthSydney @MackellarVoices @HumansOfHughes

#IndependentsDay
222. Small small world - @andrewprobyn found vision of the woman in the public gallery watching a school debating friend give his maiden speech, Christian Porter there too. August 2019.
223. He’s finally stopped hiding behind the police non-investigation. Morrison pronounces Porter ‘an innocent man’. I wonder if he read the woman’s statement before deciding he believes the AG.
224. And Morrison will not move Porter from AG.

Lucky, ain’t he, that neither Porter or Reynolds will front Parliament next week.
226. @WestenderNews, thanks for publishing my post on the Liberal Party’s failure to attract or keep female MPs and a new door opening for them in safe seats. #IndependentsDay #gettingelected
@VoicesGroom #GroomVotes

westender.com.au/women-are-flee…
227. @michellegrattan interview with law professor @FleurEJ on the Rule of Law Morrison is twisting to avoid making inquiries on Porter’s fitness to be Attorney General.

podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/pol… Image
227. Former Solicitor-General Gleeson ups the ante again on the PM and Porter. I’m still mystified why Peter doesn’t want to be cleared - if he’s got nothing to hide.
228. HUGE: Kate’s former boyfriend, Macquarie Group CEO James Hooke, says she mentioned the 1988 allegation to him in 1989, he spoke to Porter on 1992, calls for an inquiry and offers to give evidence.
229. Linda Reynolds unreservedly apologies to @BrittHiggins_
230. Not mentioned by Reynolds in her statement, she’s paid damages to @BrittHiggins_ for defaming her.
231. Oh yes, the smears against Kate that she invented the allegations decades later due to a flawed psychiatric method seem blown out of the water by the Hookes’ statement (a reason he went public?)
232. #march4justice 11am Monday Parliament House Canberra. See you there.
233. The @samanthamaiden story on the James Hooke’s bombshell statement. Can’t see how Morrison and Porter can stand their ground after this - Morrison either calls an inquiry or Porter resigns.
234. @AmberMaySchultz fleshes out Kate’s life a little.

crikey.com.au/2021/03/12/kat…
235. @BrittHiggins_ statement of the Reynolds defamation settlement and apology.
237. James Hooke recalls “relevant discussions’ with Porter in the early 1990s. Porter said he knew nothing about the allegations before the story broke save for vague rumours he did not inquire about late last year.

Wow. Image
238. Speakers list Canberra #march4justice
239. Porter refuses to respond to a sensational James Hooke statement which appears to directly contradict his press conference claims. Hmmm... Image
240. The NSW Bar Association sets Morrison right - presuming he gives a shit about what the Rule of Law is as distinct from reinventing it as a shield against him doing anything to inquire into HIS first law officer.
241. WTF, the NSW cops didn’t read the dossier sent to the PM either!!! The AFP didn’t give it to them!!! At last a - very sus - explanation why NSW cops closed the case without investigating or interviewing Porter. Bloody hell - we need an inquiry int what looks like a cover up.
242. PM’s ‘rule of law’ Porter defence - NSW police determined veracity of the woman’s claims - falls apart. Just like him they never got the dossier, let alone read it.

Something smells rotten - we need a judicial inquiry to include the PM’s & cops’ conduct? @samanthamaiden Image
DEVASTATING collapse of the PM’s ‘rule of law’ defence of Porter.
244. The PM lied or was lied to. He said he didn’t read the dossier but sent it to police: “The police are competent to deal with these issues. THEY HAVE REVIEWED THE MATERIALS and they have formed the assessment.”FALSE. Like him they never read the dossier. WTF is going on???
245. PM won’t read the letter. Or Porter. Or Frydenberg. Or the NSW police. Why? Because it contained names and contact details of people prepared to give evidence? It’s starting to stink, isn’t it.
246. I wonder...

Who’d suspect the cops are politically compromised, what a blow to the Rule of Law that would be...
247. Top Comment Today
248. So late, just found out how the #march4justice got off the ground. Similar to how the women’s match got started when Trump was elected. Congratulations to @janine_hendry.

smh.com.au/national/it-wa…
249. That’s a shame, see you there
250. Yep, that’s why I’m going to Canberra to #march4justce - my first ever women’s march - to support the fearless young women breaching the barricade. Morrison’s behaviour exemplifies what they’re up against.
251. Wondering why Oz good old boys - Kelly Kenny Henderson Shanahan - are full bore Morrison-Porter protection society? Yell Rule of Law BS, scream trial by media, falsely allege it’s party political when its a Liberal Party reckoning?

Not just backing political mates, oh no
252. Yep.
253. Morrison will demand AFP chief resign or be sacked, yes? He made it so crystal clear NSW police examined the dossier under the ‘Rule of Law’, so the AFP chief’s position is untenable, yes? And why didn’t NSW police ask for it? So many questions, maybe we need an inquiry...
254. Hartcher on the silence of the cowed - female Lib MPs silence proving Julie Bishop’s claim of a protection racket for the boys after so many women fled since 1998.

smh.com.au/politics/feder…

I wrote about a new door opening in nofibs.com.au/women-are-flee…

#independentsday Image
255. For the tag team of male Oz columnists charging that Labor and the Greens are turning rape into a political weapon ENOUGH! The calls for action are coming from inside the Liberal House. @BrittHiggins_, Kate’s friends, @SharmanStone @HonJulieBishop...
256. A question for @Sue_Dunlevy & @samanthamaiden.

Penny Wong says she sent the dossier to the NSW cops. Did they read it?
257. I won’t link to vanonselen and co’s revolting coverage of Kate.

I am bipolar 2 and have never had delusions - believed something happened that didn’t. The Oz is disgusting and harmful to innocent people they target without ethics for political reasons but what’s new...
258. A reminder that vanonselen is a hypocrite as well as being profoundly unethical by covering the story of Porter, a close personal friend.
259. Been on the road since 5am, @deniseshrivell filling me in on our way to Canberra...

so PM and Deputy PM no shows at #march4justice.
260. #IndependentsDay MP for blue ribbon #WarringahVotes @zalisteggall stepping up big time for #march4justice.
261. Deputy PM too busy
to check out #march4justice. These blokes can’t help red lighting what women are angry about, can they.
262. PM a no show too - he won’t come to women at #march4justice but they can come to him. Classic.
263. I didn’t know that...
265. No female Liberal pollies at #match4justice? Really? So many female former MPs have spoken out loud since the hard right took over the Party & those left fearfully silent... nofibs.com.au/women-are-flee… Image
266. Oh @MarisePayne, how sad. A small l liberal who’s survived decades by closing down engaging in public debate. Now as women’s minister won’t even accept #march4justice petition in person.

Time to elect community indies like @zalisteggall @helenhainesindi in safe Lib seats. Image
268. State of play for women in the Liberal Party: the PM has asked a #match4justice delegation to meet him in his office tomorrow while women’s minister @MarisePayne won’t even accept the marcher’s petition in person. Humiliation. Total humiliation.
269. #ScottyFromMarketing feels the pinch, tries to spin his way out of trouble while sidelining his woman’s minister. Be careful, #march4justice organisers. Maybe suggest to PM we’d prefer he come to us for once - it’s time?
270. Oh dear, @MarisePayne - this happened before Morrison asked a #march4justice delegation to meet him tomorrow. He’s repaid your loyalty with humiliation - time to step up? PS I’m a long time Marise fan google.com.au/amp/s/amp.smh.…)
272, hi @albericie - got a link to this poll?
283. A @deniseshrivell suggestion I like - ask your MP if he or she will drop in to the #march4justice in Canberra tomorrow.
284. Dear @DaveGillespieMP,

I’m a constituent travelling to Canberra for tomorrow’s #march4justice. Will you drop in? What is a your response to the #enoughisenough petition’s requests for action?

sincerely,

Margo Kingston
#LyneVotes
285. ZALI in @Mamamia urges woman to make #march4justice the start of the next great wave of women’s progress.
“IT’S TIME TO BE LOUD.”
@zalisteggall reps blue ribbon Warringah. Next one to go independent? @VofNorthSydney @VoicesWentworth @MackellarVoices
mamamia.com.au/womens-march-o… Image
286. The @AmyRemeikis wrap of today so far. #march4justice #enoughisenough
287. Perth’s #march4justice today.
288. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if @LucyTurnbull_AO stood as a community independent in Wentworth? What do you think, @drkerrynphelps? #march4justice

#WentworthVotes @VoicesWentworth #IndependentsDay #gettingelected
289. A #march4justice in deeply conservative Taree, in my seat of #Lyne held by the Nats’ @DaveGillespieMP. Yes!

#LyneVotes Image
290. Female Labor staffers call time on bloke’s bad behaviour.
291. I wonder which MPs will ‘want’ to attend tomorrow’s #march4justice.
292. Yes. The song that unites women of all ages, by Helen Reddy. A new wave is coming. #march4justice
293. PM wants a delegation to meet him to split the #march4justice movement. It is a spontaneous grassroots uprising bringing together women of all persuasions who are ANGRY. It’s is not an ORGANISATION to pick REPS to give him a bloody photo op. #enoughisenough @deniseshrivell
294. Yes
295. Thrilled to be at the @NRWNetwork - National Rural Women’s Network - muster in Canberra tonight!

Met Karen Finzel, independent Noosa councillor:

“I will March - it’s time for change & our voice matters.

“I want YOUNG women to get elected.”

#march4justice @Indigocathy Image
297. Spot on. The #march4justice movement is emerging as we speak - there are no ‘representatives’ yet. Morrison trying to tear it down before it takes off.
298. Weak. All spin no substance.
299. Daina Neverauskas, at the @NRWNetwork muster for the Outback Alliance:

“I worked in the 2nd women’s refuge in SA in the ‘70s & I’m horrified that we’ve gone backwards. I’m marching because women must stop being silent & putting up with shit.” #March4Justice #EnoughIsEnough Image
300. Back at my hotel, @MarieColemanAO and I meet @SueBarrett and @jobsts, who met with @janine_hendry after her tweet then went for it on messaging, logo, website build. #march4justice took off with more than 60 volunteers. Timing! Image
301. So @SarahMoran, CEO of @GirlGeekAcademy, saw the @janine_hendry tweet, thought ‘will it fizzle out or be something’, saw it tip and flew to Canberra from Melbourne.

“For Campaigns, you must have specific reasons. This one is ALL OF THEM.” Image
302. LOVE THIS PHOTO Image
303. Just checked out the #march4justice website - bloody brilliant. Values-based, inclusive. Built by @jobsts - for free.

march4justice.com.au
304. The #IndiVotes bus is driving from Wangaratta to Canberra to #March4Justice and @helenhainesindi will be there too.
@NoFibs chief reporter @Jansant will cover the Orange Revolution contingent
305. #march4justice a Twitter creation! @Claudia_Zappia, Sydney, saw the @janine_hendry Melbourne tweet, said ‘hell yeah’ & became #march4justice social media guru for 2 weeks. She just met the Melbourne website builders & operators @SueBarrett & @jobsts at our hotel. Wild! Image
306. So the women’s minister @MarisePayne does what she’s told and won’t even accept the #march4justice petition in person, then the PM humiliates her by asking to see a delegation, then she offers 2 meetings. Morrison and the Liberals keep red-lighting why women are angry.
307. @zalisteggall will #march4justice tomorrow while Liberal boys in other blue ribbon seats shut up or defend PM doing nothing on Porter.
Go @HumansOfHughes @MackellarVoices @MackellarVoices @GoldsteinVoices @VofNorthSydney @VoicesWentworth @VoicesBradfield

#IndependentsDay
308. Women have not forgotten
#march4justice Image
309. @michellegrattan reports a #match4justice delegation to see Morrison could include @BrittHiggins_
310. Solid #March4justice preview
311. Rape in a Cabinet minister’s office near a PM who says he never knew, no consequences for his ministers & staffers who kept him in the dark. @HonJulieBishop: Coverup Culture.

Time to step outside the House to listen to women who #march4justice.

https://t.co/qcqxFlYFdn
312. Indi was ‘represented’ by someone who turned her back on our sorry to the stolen generation & stood front of ditch the witch poster at Parliament House.

So the safe Liberal seat voted community independent and @helenhainesindi will #march4justice today. #IndependentsDay
313. A morning walk to the place I workaholic’d in for 15 years. PM won’t come outside and the #march4justice organisers just rejected his power play - come to me, 3 girls - to control the message.

Look what @zalisteggall pulled off - no excuse for any MP not to walk outside. ImageImage
315. Deputy PM excuses
316. @bridgetarcher hasn’t tweeted since elected Liberal MP for the Tasmanian seat of Bass. She’s the only female Liberal MP to say she’ll #march4justice today. Courage. A true representative. I followed her & hope you do too.
317. @janine_hendry takes on the ‘I’ll have a look’ BS from McCormack. Many rural women will #march4justice, and there’s a @voices4riverina group taking on old tired unrepresentative MPs like him. @bushgoddess
318. I saw Helen Reddy sing the anthem of 2nd wave feminism at Brisbane’s festival hall as a teenager. Uniting generations, moved to hear young women sing it at Perth’s #march4justice yesterday.
419. See you there Fiona. What a #march4justice sign!!!
413. Off dear, @SenatorHume - not a Liberal woman who’ll #march4justice today (there’s only 1) - lobbies @janine_hendry to meet the PM behind closed doors because it would be “exciting”. As I keep saying, the Libs RED LIGHT what makes women angry about their boys club.
414. @becspecks and a friend from @MackellarVoices before walking to #march4justice.

#IndependentsDay #MackellarVotes Image
415. @SarahMoran with posters to choose from in hotel foyer. She’ll mount these for me.

PS: MOMENTUM! @adropex reports @SenatorHume - the PM’s spruiker to @janine_hendry for a closed door meeting, just told Sky she will #march4justice. Lib woman number 2, after @bridgetarcher Image
416. Tarina Mather & Vanessa Viaggio from Bermagui on NSW south coast walked out of their hotel lift and found posters for to #march4justice

Tarina: “I to use my voice to get some change; I can’t believe we’re still having this discussion. I’m here because I’m FRUSTRATED.” Image
417. OK, I’m doing the star struck thing before #march4justice. Nice to meet you @georgiedent Image
418. We becam dm buddies after Mum died, at last I meet @julia_zemiro before we #march4justice Image
419. @paradisbeurre from Sydney with posters her grandchildren made to #march4justice. Image
420. @mbeaumont10 and Paula Terry from Sydney make the Margaret Atwood statement for #march4justice Image
421. Timing. News breaks just before the #march4justice that Porter has sued the ABC for defamation, a play to take the pressure off Morrison for an inquiry? He can sue for defo but not turn up to Parliament...
532. Yep, Porter wants to substitute a defamation case for an inquiry, take pressure off PM, exert pressure on media to stop reporting. Will be interesting to see if it’s a ‘stopper writ’ - pollies sometimes sue when heat is in, drop case when it’s off.
523. Anyone care to bet against Yo PM avoidance saying he can’t say anything today on Parliament because Porter has sued? First the cops were the shield, now the defamation court. So bloody cynical before #march4justice.
424. #march4justice is a gathering!
@Indigocathy Image
425. #WentworthVotes heroine @drkerrynphelps is at the Canberra #march4justice. She’s standing for Sydney mayor, who will step up this time - @LucyTurnbull_AO? @VoicesWentworth

#IndependentsDay Image
426. Big name veterans of Australian second wave feminism @takingalongview and @MarieColemanAO can’t quite believe women of all ages and styles and opinions have come together again. Wendy McCarthy, laughing, “We kept turning up.” Image
527. #indivotes #march4justice
528. Your #march4justice remedy for that unforgivable ‘ditch the witch’ image at Parliament House with Canberra’s @MarieColemanAO and @SenKatyG Image
529. The @BrittHiggins_ sentence at the #march4justice that could destroy #ScottyfromMarketing.

“I watched as the Prime Minister of Australia publicly apologised to me through the media, while privately his media team actively undermined and discredited my loved ones.” ImageImage
530. Finally, @JuliaGillard. Finally. ImageImage
631. WHAT???? Australian women should be grateful that he’s not gunning them down? WHAT??? #march4justice #enoughisenough
631. Keep having to say it - Morrison’s actions seem designed to inflame already angry women. Closes down #march4justice questions by cutting #QT short his latest big swinging dick response - does he want a gender war for political reasons? It ain’t leadership that’s for sure.
632. The Morrison close it down clip thanks to @Qldaah

enough is never enough for #ScottyfromMarketing
763. The say cheese moment for the #march4justice after party:-

WE WEREN’T SHOT! Image
535. Fellow Queenslander @Jess_Rudd flew down from Brisbane for #march4justice. “Why would any woman bother in that building if we don’t #march4justice.” Image
436. Introducing @HughesRenews who’s in @HumansOfHughes, a ‘Voices for’ group to elect a community independent at #HughesVotes.

Why did she #march4justice? “Let me count the ways...”

#IndependentsDay Image
437. @CeciliaMoar stood as 1 of 3 indies at #MalleeVotes & is helping form a Voices for Mallee, a vast rural Vic seat. #MalleeVotes

“I’ve never protested before but It’s not OK what they’re doing, it’s criminal, and we can’t allow that behaviour to be normalised.” #march4justice Image
438. The women who organised the Canberra #march4justice at a moments notice - logistics, line-up, permits, fallout - a fabulous job under huge time pressure. Thank you @Kuljeeta4 @KathyLAllan @waltonkate @BlairWilliams26 @petaswarbrick @BethanyinCBR Image
439. @katehookorange & @PollyWi92611992 drove from Orange to #march4justice AND are starting Voices for Calare, once held by independent Peter Andren.

Kate: “I’m sick of the the hiding things under the carpet that is politics. We need truth & this is an historic day.” Image
440. YES! A big #match4justice in my safe National Party seat of Lyne.
441. @auspoldaily flew up from Melbourne to #march4justice because “this is history and I want to be here for a push for genuine equal opportunity for everyone”.

She won her financial security in communications management and now spends her time on activism. Image
442. And that’s a wrap. Home tomorrow. So happy @deniseshrivell asked me to come to Canberra’s #march4justice. @julia_zemiro Image
443. The Grattan #march4justice wrap
445. It took guts for Lib MPs to join #march4justice when no Cabinet minister or even the Women’s Minister was let off Morrison’s leash. The momentum of the day let them do it; now to ACT.
446. It was blindingly obvious - as I predicted yesterday Porter’s defamation action the latest shield for Morrison to avoid an inquiry. First the cops, now a defo action with all the cards in Porter’s hands.

Boys Club. #march4justice #EnoughIsEnough

thenewdaily.com.au/opinion/2021/0… ImageImage
447. Brilliant.
448. @TheAusInstitute Porter Poll - 54% want PM to call an inquiry, 20% oppose. #enoughisenough

australiainstitute.org.au/wp-content/upl… Image
449. Did you know MPs and Judges are exempt from sexual harassment laws? @zalisteggall has asked Parliament to pass a law fixing that (FYI the Rule of Law means equal treatment, PM).

#Warringah chose wisely when I tossed Abbott for community independent Zali. #IndependentsDay
450. What next after #march4justice?
451. The line that everyone’s using to summarise the PMs attitude to #march4justice was first coined by @JaneCaro. Pithy.

Thrilled to meet her last night.
452. Hadn’t thought of this: How can the Australian Government’s First Law Officer think it’s appropriate to sue a Government agency? Conflict of bloody interest anyone? He must be in the vanonselen school of who gives a fuck about that.
453. “Initially the Coalition thought the anger would be confined to tertiary educated women but it had ‘cut through’ to... suburbia, said a source.” - @PhillipCoorey

You reckon? @tracygrimshaw excoriated the PM on @ACurrentAffair9 last night!

9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affa…
454. I love @JacquiLambie
456. The despair on the face of @MarisePayne in the lift shows the price of having to defend PM’s ‘met with bullets’ remark on #march4justice. He’s put Lib & Nat women in an impossible position because he can’t be credibly defended. It’s now ritual humiliation by a Boys Club PM.
457. PM & Porter ADMIT AG’s conflict of interest suing the ABC so he’ll delegate part of his job. WTF!

Diabolical. Starting to think the defo writ is not just about giving the PM another excuse not to act. Something deeper is in play. Destroy the ABC? Avoid Porter’s resignation?
458. The Essential Porter Poll.
459. I’ve seen enough. Morrison is a #BoysClubPM. No other way to assess his consistent behaviour since Ms Higgins went public.
460. Three community independents on 3 used-to-be safe Liberal seats proudly #march4justice. Let there be more to resurrect moderate liberalism.
@zalisteggall @helenhainesindi @MakeMayoMatter

@HumansOfHughes @VofNorthSydney

#IndependentsDay Image
462. Pointed.
463. Sickening hypocrisy of PM&Porter ‘Rule of Law’ shield against inquiry: Govt’s first law officer asks Govt-funded Court to order damages to him against Govt funded ABC. Oh, & Porter appoints judges, so add judicial conflict of interest.

It’s evil.

crikey.com.au/2021/03/16/chr… Image
464. A responsible PM would ask his AG to move or stand aside if he sued a Govt agency in a Govt Court for personal damages.

Morrison perverts Rule of Law he cites to avoid inquiry into Porter’s fitness to be our first law officer.

Porter’s defo writ while AG shows he’s unfit
465. So THAT’s why we saw Bryan Brown and Simon Baker having dinner at the #march4justice after party hotel. Proud to say I had a chat with Mr Brown and did not ask for a selfie.
467. The #march4justice petition
468. Washington Post on #March4Justice
469. Sharp
470. @LucyTurnbull_AO a leading. voice of small l liberalism on #march4justice now the hard right of the Party has flattened the liberal wing. Hope she stands at #WentworthVotes

#IndependentsDay
471. @MediaActive vox pops women at Melbourne’s #march4justice for the #transitzone pod. @transitzonepod
472. Yep.
474. Still stunned. PM admits Porter can’t do the AG’s job if he sues the ABC due to a conflict of personal interest and public duty so he changes the AG’s job description rather than move him to another ministry. WTF has Porter got on him???
475. Porter’s statement of claim against the ABC.
476. Porter’s defamation action against the ABC opens a Pandora’s box of conflicts of interest if he stays AG. Now PM takes legal advice from the Govt’s top legal adviser the Solicitor General.
477. LONG delay completing PM’ s department head ‘inquiry’ into which PM’s staff knew what when on Ms Higgins’ alleged rape. Hmmm...
478. Unbelievable Morrison is happy for his Attorney-General to be crippled by conflict of personal interest and public duty issues for months, maybe years. All to shield him from calling an inquiry.
479. Big parties REALLY want to clean up Parliament’s workplace and the behaviour of MPs? Check out the @helenhainesindi Parliamentary Standards Bill. A @Jansant video interview for @NoFibs.
#IndiVotes #IndependentsDay

nofibs.com.au/parliamentary-…
480. Sara Dowse became the 1st head of the 1st women's unit in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet in 1974.

Her take on the #match4justice, via another veteran second wave feminist @MarieColemanAO
481. Former Commonwealth Solicitor General Justin Gleeson head’s defence team against Porter’s defamation action. Both sides from legal top drawer. Gunna be epic.
482. Since the PM & Co won’t come clean let’s hope @4corners has uncovered answers to what happened after a senior adviser to the Defence Minister allegedly raped Ms Higgins in his boss’s office.
483. #IndependentsDay MP for Warringah @zalisteggall with @michellegrattan on #march4justice.

podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/pol…
484. ‘PM’ Morrison says he doesn’t know anything about HIS dept head’s ‘inquiry’ into HIS staff’s knowledge of Ms Higgins’ alleged rape, including why it’s already taken double the time of the same dept head’s #sportrorts whitewash.

abc.net.au/news/2021-03-2…
485. Got so excited watching @Brazen_Hussies on iview - learnt lots about Oz 2nd wave feminism on the frontlines written and directed by a daughter of the revolution. but watching it NOW, after #march4justice, it’s goosebumpy. Interview with the director probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2020/11/d…
486. Sara Dowse, a liberationist on the frontlines in @Brazen_Hussies, writes her response to watching #march4justice.

insidestory.org.au/then-and-now/
487. Elizabeth Reid was wonderful, back then, and in @Brazen_Hussies. I interviewed her in the 1990’s for the @michellegrattan Canberra Times, will dig it out.

A @kathkenny_ doco review

google.com.au/amp/s/amp.theg…
488. I’ve driven miles to a spot with a bar - no internet/mobile service for 2 days in cut-off Comboyne. Amazing yesterday & today - now PM admits he’s in deep trouble with women, asks us to feel for him & threatens his biggest media backer to back off or else. Missed Twitter!
489. @murpharoo thread on the latest Govt info block.

Folks, after PM covered up the suspension of his dept head’s secret inquiry into what the PMs staff knew and when, I mean...

Working theory: it’s a serious cover up. Maybe the PM was told & said bury it?
490. The @ByClare personal response to Morrison’s threat to reveal complaints against questioner’s employers when asked if his leadership over his MPs and staff had failed.

Female political journalists are on fire. Stepping up for their readers.
491. I think just about every woman in Australia would be deeply cynical about Morrison’s sudden empathy play. It’s obvious to all his pain is for his political problem, one so bad he fell out of ‘I’m sincere, I promise’ character to snarl at Murdoch!

theguardian.com/australia-news… Image
492. Murdoch has turned on Morrison. Bottom line must have kicked in.
494. Your essential @latingle spot on #730Report
495. PM did not say sorry when asked about his allegation against News Corp in #qt yesterday. He said sorry on Facebook very late last night after he saw it played bad. This man has no centre - he believes in nothing except keeping power whatever it takes.
497. How did Howard end Labor’s reign after Hewson’s daring run on a big blueprint failed? Headland Speeches on the party’s core principles.

@AlboMP should do the same and if he’s not up to it Labor should find a leader who is.

Opportunity: Champion honest ethical politics...
498. Gobsmacking. Morrison’s sorry to Need Corp proves his pleas that he got it were hogwash spin.

The master of spin has spun so hard he’s see through and it’s awful. Why? Surely he has to be covering up something. If not he’s empty of soul, yes?
499. @karenandrewsmp steps as de facto minister for women and describes a Liberal Party culture straight out of Mad Men! The bloody 1950s! #730report

Why? The Hard Right destroyed liberalism. nofibs.com.au/women-are-flee…
660. Chickens finally coming home to roost for the hard right bully boys who now dominate Liberal Party culture in Canberra. Female liberal MP accuses Abetz of Mad Men style attitude toward Ms Higgins.
661. Abetz denies Hickey allegation. Who to believe?
502. Porter sat on the Sex Discrimination Commissioner’s report on workplace harassment & recommendations for law reform for a year, did NOTHING. Now Morrison says that’s not good enough - and??? By @JoshButler
503. The @SueHickeyTas Abetz statement video.
504. The Abetz denial video.
505. Catching up: Our first law officer misled us on his #Medivac legal advice. That’s
unethical and he is unfit to be AG.
506. The full late night Morrison Facebook sorry. Image
507. It’s a Government wide stonewall on the Ms Higgins ‘incident’. Why not say why the bloke was sacked - you say it had nothing to do with the alleged rape yet claim the police investigation prevents your answering! Cover up. No other explanation.
508. PM on Abetz: He’s denied the allegation so that’s that. Same as Porter. Don’t inquire further, just believe the blokes.
509. PM on Porter - more advice taking on how he should exercise HIS responsibilities. Like #sportsrorts he asks his dept to decide if Porter meets HIS ministerial standards.
510. Two independent MPs for blue ribbon seats show Morrison how to lead if he really gave a shit. Great opportunity for Labor to back the @zalisteggall & @helenhainesindi honest politics bills, which would help women in politics. #IndependentsDay
511. Morrison is not a leader. Morrison is a coward.
512. Is Morrison lying on alleged rapist’s termination? So many unanswered questions, proliferating amid cover-up attempts.
513,. Tony Abbott’s replacement in blue ribbon Warringah @zalisteggall leads liberalism’s revolt against a hard right Government which drove women from its ranks after the 1996 peak of female MPs. nofibs.com.au/women-are-flee… Image
514. @SueHickeyTas in néw statement states she discussed Abetz’s comments with others at the time. This thread tells you her history in the Tasmanian Liberal Party. She’s GUTSY.

Makes you wonder, yet again, why Morrison believed his denial without further inquiry.
515. I don’t know if Abetz is a misogynist but I do know he’s homophobic. His response to my 1994 column in the Canberra Times hoping none of his kids were gay after he strongly opposed decriminalising homosexuality in Tasmania. Image
516. HUGE: Liberal Premier of Tasmania confirms @SueHickeyTas raised alleged Abetz remarks with him at the time, asks Morrison to consider the matter. Thread by @emlybkr
618. The Gitwein bombshell after Morrison said he believed Abetz denial without further inquiry.
61. Reshuffle!
620. Scathing @Drag0nista response to Morrison’s fake ‘mea culpa’ - the former Howard adviser came out of retirement to truth tell.
621. Something Morrison said yesterday that freaked
me out - praise for Chris McDiven, who led a wildly successful push for more female Liberal MPs culminating in a trebling of numbers at 1996 election. All downhill from there thanks to the hard right.
nofibs.com.au/women-are-flee…
622. Penny Wong lays out the obvious truth that Morrison’s Govt is deliberately withholding information on the Ms Higgins ‘incident’.

The question is why. At the moment there’s a stench of cover up. ffs Morrison doesn’t even want to know what his own staff knew - why?
633. Morrison on the run - now plans to move Reynolds and strip Porter of AG role. This after backing her and allowing Porter to stay AG while suing the ABC. His failure to lead has come to this, a panicked reaction to Liberal women breaking ranks in desperation.
634. Chris Uhlmann also gets the Morrison leak - Morrison reverses permission for Porter to sue ABC while AG. Was obvious to everyone except him there was an intolerable conflict of private interest & public duty. Tells the story of his ‘leadership’.

9news.com.au/videos/nationa…
635. Morrison’s abject leadership failure sees spiders spread in all directions - Credlin says she knows the other staff involved in the Facebook group, and that she had sacked the desk wanker.
636. Bloody hell
737. Yep. The dam has burst on the culture of the ‘Liberal’ Party since hard right took control. How can liberal voters force reform? Elect true community independents in safe seats. #IndependentsDay.

Mayo, Indi and Warringah show the way with strong women who want to SERVE.
739. MsnHiggins won’t let PM@get away with refusing to say whether his staff backgrounded against her loved ones as she alleged at the Canberra #march4justice.
639. LOVE that Ms Higgins keeps calling Morrison on his “I know nothing and don’t want to find out” BS about his staff.
660. Ms Higgins formally complained when Morrison said on AM that no one had directly complained to his office (she complained in a nationally televised speech at Canberra’s #march4justice). And someone else gave his COS info too after his ludicrous latest obfuscation.
671. Sharp
672. I don’t know what to make of this. If the @AndrewLamingMP abject apology is true he should resign or Morrison should ensure he’s disendorsed. Note no reply from PM when one woman complained, a story is about to go to air and he ‘hauls in’ Laming.
673. Thread on @AndrewLamingMP’s form harassing women. Starting to look like a feature of today’s Liberal Party, not a bug. #march4justice has opened the floodgates - women are stepping up and stripping Morrison and his Party of all pretence. It’s extraordinary.
674. I recommend this @crikey_news series on political corruption in Australia.
675. How a corrupt Govt spun and deflected and stonewalled until it was completely obvious that the Emperor and his club were naked. A @Broelman cut-through.
676. 6 MONTHS after a woman reported an alleged rape by a NSW Nat MP yet he’ll be interviewed only after the allegation made public. Protection racket. NSW cops closed case against Porter without receiving dossier from AFP Morrison gave them.

It’s in the open now. Now what?
677. It’s overwhelming - ANOTHER allegation Laming harassed ANOTHER woman online.

‘Disgraceful’ says ‘PM’, yet multiple examples of his behaviour saw no action for YEARS.

Like Craig Kelly, who ‘PM’ protected from disendorsement before
#ausvotes

https://t.co/9UWU8ntoS4
679. Good to know that the deputy Liberal Party leader joins his leader in thinking the culture of his Parliamentary party has nothing to do with him.
To my mind the explosion of revelations that the Govt doesn’t give a shit about the behaviour of its MPs or their staff until they’re forced to - and even then they spin and obfuscate - symbolises the now glaring fact that ethics are passé for them. A corrupt club. Now what?
680. The horror would never have been revealed if ‘PM’ had actively investigated Ms Higgins’ bombshell instead of abdicating leadership by outsourcing responsibility for his own staff and stonewalling on what happened with her and Porter. Fitting. He and his Party are naked now.
681. He blocked accountability for what happened with Ms Higgins. He believed Porter, didn’t read dossier or inquire. He believed Abetz even after Tassie Lib Premier asked him to inquire. He told Laming to apologise & took no other action. He protected Kelly from disendorsement.
682. The turning point was his refusal to address Canberra #march4justice, banning his women’s minister & other ministers from attending then saying it was great they weren’t shot. That was the breaking point for women, including Liberal Party women. He did this. @deniseshrivell
683. I won’t say who but last year a press gallery veteran who’s seen it all told me that yeah, he or she knew how much I detested Abbott (see Not Happy John!) but Morrison was worse. Much worse. I was gobsmacked, but now I understand. #ScottyfromMarketing
684. I’m so grateful to @deniseshrivell for talking me into attending Canberra #march4justice. I saw Helen Reddy sing this at Brisbane’s Festival Hall as a teenager and now I know what it means when ALL women come together to say #enoughisenough. All of us CAN clean up politics.
685. An awful dilemma for press gallery journos - what to do when backgrounded by a minister’s office then minister denies it. Last time was M Cash AWU horror - had a go at @Riley7News over that.
PMs statement no journo had complained gave someone the chance to break silence?
686. YES!
697. I noticed and liked the @tegangeorge style of journalism at #qldvotes. Blunt. Courageous. NOT an insider. As all good journos should be. Now this. Wonderful work, fellow Queenslander.
698. It’s all a show, folks, if you didn’t know already. ‘PM’ says it’s ‘disgraceful’ but it just about #ScottyfromMarketing appearances, of course. Laming tells the truth and blows his cover. Image
689. Turnbull & Bishop say it’s inconceivable Morrison wasn’t told of alleged rape by senior Liberal staffer in Defence Minister’s office. He says he’s upset he wasn’t told yet nothing done except an outsource to a former COS who’s ‘paused’ his ‘inquiry’. Obvious take - he knew.
680. A Morrison apologist’s take. When I appeared on @TheDrum in 2018 advocating a vote for @drkerrynphelps to save liberalism she said even if she won the byelection the Liberal Party was not for turning. And she was right

afr.com/politics/feder…
681. Could press gallery explain why sacked masturbation staffer hasn’t been named? And the MP who saw fit to employ him is not asked to account for their judgement? What are the insider house rules; why don’t voters who pay their salaries have the right to know? @samanthamaiden
692. @AndrewLamingMP for real, sans #ScottyFromMarketing ‘disgraceful’ bullshit.
OK, thought about it hard & I reckon @tanya_plibersek should lead Labor & deliver ‘headland speeches’ on Labor VALUES. starting with honest, ethical SERVICE politics.

Policy decisions should flow from core principles. What are yours, Labor? Are you willing to EARN voters trust?
694. Sorry to obsess, and I’ll get a life tomorrow. Listening to ABC partyroom pod and Fran Kelly spoke of Morrison’s ‘heartfelt plea’ presser. What? Does she believe that or is she so immersed in insider politics that spin is reality? I know & like Fran but HUH???
685. It’s a joke, folks. Are you in on it? If not, you’re not in the club.

Image
696. The thing is in Canberra they don’t believe what they say and the press gallery plays along with occasional raised ironic eyebrow and then - very rare, have I seen it before? - something happens where we know where very one of them stands, bottom line. Politicians. Journos.
507. Yep. For Morrison, believe the men. Always. End of story. No inquiry necessary.

When he said start by believing women he was #ScottyfromMarketing lying.
597. Last tweet tonight. @David_Speers on the partyroom pod points out that Morrison OPPOSED quotas in 2019 & 2019. His ‘heartfelt plea’, as Fran Kelly put it, was, you guessed it, just another a lie.

podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the…
699. No more tweets tonight! Big name non press gallery journos now calling out PM’s desperation spin. The Emperor is naked and everyone knows it. He’s trashed the prestige of PM - the #march4justice organisers were right to tell him to come to them. Here’s @Lisa_Wilkinson
700. Andrew Laming, pervert, takes time off. If he doesn’t quit how can Morrison accept his vote? And if he does come back after ‘medical leave’ (!) why would Labor give him a pair? Morrison Govt is officially in crisis.
701. The Network Nine story that could break the Government. I can’t see how Morrison can justify Laming taking medical leave for being a pervert. Surely he must resign from Parliament = the biggest by election since #WentworthVotes.
702. Sorry, it doesn’t compute that Laming takes time off work for counselling and behaviour management. He’s not fit to be an MP. It’s simple and obvious. Should have been for years given his history. The scandal escalates if this stands imo.

abc.net.au/news/2021-03-2…
703. Succinct
704. Labor has no option, it must refuse a pair for Laming if his ‘leave’ extends to the next sitting.

And if he does return how on earth can Morrison accept his vote?
705. Zali was right BEFORE the revelation that that Laming photographed a woman’s bottom m in a shop.

Now he’s taking leave from his job - really? Where on earth is Morrison’s bottom line?
706. Are cops investigating Laming?
707. So REFRESHING to see @KatieAllenMP & @SenSHenderson as the #insiders guests and their direct, strong suggestions for change. Both want Laming gone. Stepping into their new found power!
708. There it is, minimalism yet again from Morrison. Laming won’t contest next election, looks like he’ll stay in the LNP and PM will accept his vote.
709. Women step up, Morrison and a Liberal Party denuded of female MPs since the hard right took control on the ropes after a dramatic power shift led by young women. The @annabelcrabb column.
810. WOW. Female Liberal MPs won’t take PM’s calls - he wants them to defend him but there’s no way to do so with honour. This bloke won’t even find out when his staff knew about Ms Higgins, why they didn’t tell him (he says) & who backgrounded against her partner. By @CroweDM. Image
811. Morrison’s deputy says Laming is ‘a fit and proper person’ to represent Bowman and he’ll remain in the Liberal PartyRoom unless the Qld LNP expels him.
812. I said several times the PMs decisions, every time, seem DESIGNED to inflame women. Clearly he’s trying to reverse women’s strong feeling he’s a #boysclubPM. How about dumping Reynolds, Porter from Cabinet and bringing in, say, @SenSHenderson as Cabinet minister for woman.
812. Then wrecked his power play by saying Laming is “a fit and proper person” to remain a Liberal MP till the next election.
813. It’s so basic Laming should leave politics now, it’s so basic Morrison should ask the LNP to expel him, it’s so basic that the Govt should not accept his vote. Yet none of these things are on the table - yet. We have a #boysclubPM .
814. If officials have nothing to hide about what happened on the night and after I can’t see how cops’ investigation could be impeded. And if finding out when & what PM staffers knew impeded cops - wow. IMO there is a Govt-wide coverup of the Ms Higgins incident. Why? Image
815. @KarenMMiddleton wrap of Ms Higgins’ Estimates probe.
Like, since cops cleared officials of wrongdoing last year, why refuse to answer questions now?

A severely intoxicated woman found unconscious naked yet send cleaners to a possible crime scene?
Image
81. The Laming statement.
817. The LNP will not expel Laming - they too find him fit and proper to represent the Party.
818. Congratulations @PeterFegan9. Top drawer TV journalism on Laming.
819. PM now says he wants to change behaviour. One way is serious consequences for bad behaviour. He might try it one day but don’t hold your breath. Empathy training for a politician? That’s meant to be their raison d’être. They’re meant to REPRESENT people ffs.
820. Well said Niki. No wonder many, including me, think Morrison must be lying and did know of Ms Higgins’ matter before he read the @samanthamaiden report. How else to explain the inexplicable. And WHY a Govt-wide coverup at Estimates of what happened? Something’s rotten.
821. The editor of the Australian Law Journal debunks PM’s claim that the rule of law is threatened by an inquiry into the Attorney General’s fitness for office, which he says would enhance the rule of law and public trust in the legal system. Image
822. #march4justice action in the Eels shed.
833. Send@Laming to the Crossbench, advises @michellegrattan.

“Leave, frankly, looks like an excuse not to be around.”
834. Dunno why she deleted this s tweet, seems odd if the club told her to delete, I mean the Club ADOPTED HIM - free political speech just for the boys?

Image
726. This moment in one photo. Image
737. Mega reset by #ScottyfromMarketing. Porter stripped of AG & leader of House, Robert overlooked as Home Affairs Minister, it’s Karen Andrews, who stepped up for Liberal women last week. More women in ministry. Marise Payne ‘PM for Women’ to lead a Cabinet taskforce for women. Image
738.Amazing to me, in PressGallery when moderates were being systematically destroyed by hard right, that @MarisePayne, a moderate survivor, is now PM for women. POTENTIALLY an extraordinary upending of the Liberal power structure.

What does it mean for climate change policy?
739. Liberal women have power at last, in theory. And the Govt has an agenda at last, in theory.

Morrison’s protection of Laming is a gaping hole.

Is it real? Depends on whether Morrison gets real on telling the truth on Ms Higgins incident, in his office & more generally.
740. Right now, Ms Higgins has changed the face of Liberal politics, structurally and in substance. She is a heroine.

PMs behaviour in response triggered a resurgence of a united, strong women’s movement symbolised by #march4justice.

Big ? - How will the hard right respond?
841. PM’s massive shift to save himself proves wisdom of #march4justice organisers refusing a meeting in his office. The success of @MarisePayne in leading transformative bipartisan policy change for women depends on continued vibrant activism of the new united women’s movement.
842. My experience tells me there’ll be reverberations across the Party. A victory for women is not assured.

PMs defence of Laming ‘continuing to serve’ his electorate a nonsense given his treatment of female constituents.

His coverup of Ms Higgins’ incident needs addressing.
743. A suggestion. The new united women’s movement calls a summit to devise a policy agenda and elect spokeswomen to advise govt, lobby for change and keep the Govt honest and on track. It will take more than putting more women in the ministry to get the outcomes women need.
744. In other words, #ScottyfromMarketing is doing this to save himself - everyone knows that. To turn a marketing play into substantial policy outcomes for women requires the #march4justice movement to get organised and push hard TOGETHER.
745. This is the bloke Morrison says has learned his lesson, will get counselling and deserves to stay in the Liberal Party till the election. Come on! #ScottyfromMarketing words are only words till there’s action.
746. Statement from the man who ignored the Sex Discrimination Commissioner’s report into how to improve workplace safety for women for 12 MONTHS. And who the PM let stay AG while suing the ABC until he was forced to move him to save himself. Still no inquiry though.
747. #scottyfromMarketing finding another villain to protect himself, as usual.

Women cannot relax. We must come together to keep him honest and empower Liberal women to force substantial policy outcomes.
748. Looking back over this thread I’m in awe of the fact that young women emerged as the leaders of a resurgent women’s movement across party lines which through a spontaneous #march4justice movement successfully defied the PMs let it die out strategy. Crucial it stays strong.
749. There’s another way women are leading to ensure ethical SERVANTS of the people like @zalisteggall & @helenhainesindi are elected.

The ‘Voice for...’ movement wants grassroots activism in politics & if necessary will back quality community independents. See @VoicesForAU.
750. One of many startling victories of the Ms Higgin’s led #march4justice movement - it empowered female Liberal MPs used to being bullied and keeping quiet to protect themselves in a toxic male culture to step up, speak out and demand transformative change. Wonderful.
751. Stuart Robert is corrupt. Look it up. He’s a close friend & ally of Morrison set to get Home Affairs (!) till a defensive PM gave the crucial portfolio to Karen Andrews. Important to remember the PM has not changed his non-accountability stripes. Keep him in a crouch folks.
752. Bloody hell - with Morrison there’s always a kicker. Amanda Stoker, assistant minister for women. Good luck @MarisePayne Image
753. Laming a VERY weak link in Morrison reset. Here’s PM on his penitence.
754. And here’s Laming today desperately trying to avoid criminal charges by saying he did nothing wrong.
755. @MarisePayne said Laming had done “the minimum” by retiring at the next election, and Bridget McKenzie said the women stalked or photographed should go to the police because his behaviour was “illegal”.
756. AND @SenSHenderson says Morrison should kick Laming out of the party room.

google.com.au/amp/s/amp.news…
757. Many Tweeps say I’m too optimistic about #ScottyfromMarketing’s gear shift. Sure he’s protecting Laming despite his up yours & has done nothing to lift the Ms Higgins’ coverup or inquire into Porter. I still say the opening is there for women if we maintain the pressure.
758. @Riley7News nails PM on Laming and he walks out.
759. Look, I know PM is not for real and there are strong Party forces that hate empowering women and serving their interests. BUT there’s now a chance for good policy outcomes, maybe even a transformed politics, if the resurgent women’s movement stays united, strong & active.
760. Good on her! Missed this - #malleevotes Nat @AnneWebsterMP lodges complaint of sexual harassment by a Coalition ‘colleague’ in the Chamber! Amid all the crap! Times are changing if we don’t let up.
761. And yes, it’s ridiculous for @SenatorCash to be AG after she refused to cooperate with the AFP over her office illegally telling the media about an impending AFP raid on the AWU. Morrison doesn’t give a shit about ethics, obviously.
google.com.au/amp/s/amp.theg…
772. AFR wrap
773.’ Witness reports Laming to cops over photo. Explains why Laming tried to mount a defence in interviews today BEFORE PM said he was penitent.
774. Will #BowmanVotes residents #march4justice to remove Laming?
775. Yes!
787. In 2013 I led a @NoFibs project for citizen journo volunteers to report #ausvotes in the seats where they lived. We need more of it. My friend & indispensable No Fibs team member @burgewords looks back on his coverage of #BowmanVotes, held by Laming.
788. @NoFibs’ former Qld reporter @Qldaah had the news first!
789. The @CUhlmann wrap
790. Please follow @PeterFegan9, doing Queensland political accountability journalism proud and storming into national prominence with his reports on Laming’s behaviour and the women stepping up to call him out.
791. For all tweets on Laming and Bowman voters’ response I suggest the hashtag #BowmanVotes for a Twitter news feed. @PeterFegan9 @tegangeorge @AmyRemeikis @lenoretaylor
792. Concise.
793. #730Report on Laming being reported to police over his upskirt.
794. FUCK! Despite history of bad behaviour PM strongly backed Laming in a pre-selection fight before 2019 #ausvotes. One woman stalked says she wrote to him about his behaviour, no response. #730Report

PM also blocked Craig Kelly’s disendorsement (after he heard about Zumbo)?
795. MOST CONSEQUENTIAL AUSTRALIAN STORY EVER.

Former Labor minister Kate Ellis brings together ALL women, from Pauline (disgusting Tele hit I won’t forget) to Julie, Karen, Julia, Sharman, Tanya, Sarah.

AMAZING TIMING!

Women in politics unite. FEEL THE POWER. @georgiedent
797. Ellis’s bloke @david_pemberthy, ex press gallery & Murdoch favourite, gives best statement of the implicit corruption of the PG- politician relationship I’ve heard.
And did Murdoch blackmail Ellis - we don’t ruin your career if Labor gives us a big scoop? #australianstory
798. Here is the SENSATIONAL #AustralianStory if you missed it - what do you think of the Murdoch incident? Evidence for a #MurdochRoyalCommission?
799. Kate Ellis’s bloke @penbo today read on air with conviction that Jeremy Cordeaux, talkback icon, had been terminated for out of bounds misogyny. An inspiring relationship - agree on basic values, relax with disagreeing on other stuff. Maybe Oz should try it? #australianstory
800. Devastating. #BowmanVotes
801. @michellegrattan analysis of Morrison’s women’s ‘gathering’. I disagree on @MarisePayne - I think she’ll be the perfect leader of a Liberal women’s team with the chance (long odds) to agree on an agenda for transformative policy change. She’s survived as a mod 20 years ffs
802. @andrewprobyn nails PM on Stuart Robert, corrupt AND incompetent. (Mate, ally, what does he know?)
803. IMO @MarisePayne has nothing to lose as primary minister for women. She leads hard-won Liberal women’s agreement on new policy and talks PM into it (great leverage!) or the PMs latest edifice reset collapses into factional crap and who can blame her? Aim high, Marise.
804. Yep. @KateEllis22 alleges on #AustraliaStory that an unnamed paper killed a fake sex scandal story that would have ended her career in exchange for a big scoop that suited its agenda. Blackmail. Ethics Zero. #MurdochRoyalCommission. BIG questions to answer. #enoughisenough
895. Last word before a break phew! He’ a #boysclubPM. Porter, Abetz deny, he believes. Laming admits, agreement to retire a year or so.

Kudos to @SenSHenderson & @senbmckenzie for calling the PM put. And to @MarisePayne for saying that was ‘the minimum’ he could do.
896. Oops, one more. Any citizen journos in #BowmanVotes want to report what’s happening on the ground in response to the Laming revelations for @NoFibs? @burgewords @Jansant
897. Per @NeilMcMahon, it was a Sunday Tele blackmail of @KateEllis22, hit man Glen Milne. Editor, anyone ?

The Tele also ran the fake Pauline nude photos during one of her many election campaigns. Anyone remember the year? Total scam. #AustralianStory

#MurdochRoyalCommission
808. So the Nats will expel the MP for texting a sex worker in Parliament and tell him to quit NOW and Morrison keeps an admitted stalker and upskirter in the tent till the next election. Untenable, yes?
809. NSW Nats leader tells Michael Johnson to quit Parliament immediately. #BowmanVotes
810. Yep. #BowmanVotes Image
811. The LNP long knew Laming was toxic because 3 #BowmanVotes branch members tried to de-select him before 2019 #ausvotes and were suspended for doing so. MORRISON strongly backed him in preselection fight, see #730Report last night via @michaelatkin

google.com.au/amp/s/amp.abc.…
812.Yep. Morrison has serious form protecting misogynist MPs from de-selection by their own local branches. #BowmanVotes #HughesVotes @HumansOfHughes
813. Good on you @juliahbanks, one of several Liberal stars in last night’s #AustralianStory
814. Cuts to the bone.
815. Great idea - how about a citizen journos project next #ausvotes where people report from the seat where they live. @NoFibs did a pilot in 2013 - best reporting of #IndiVotes and @burgewords did #BowmanVotes
@simonahac
816. Here’s the devastating Laming story by @michaelatkin on #730Report last night, revealing Morrison intervened when #BowmanVotes liberal branch members tried to get rid of him for toxic behaviour. The LNP suspended them and protected Laming.

abc.net.au/7.30/calls-for…
817. ABC wrap of the NSW Nats showing up Morrison’s protection racket for unrepentant stalking upskirter Andrew Laming.
818. Here’s the #AustralianStory killer quote from @penbo on how unethical and naive press gallery journos are used by politicians.

#australianstory also exposed Murdoch’s corrupt targeting of female politicians to further his political agenda.

#MurdochRoyalCommission ImageImage
819. Told ya hard right would fight back hard to protect the boys club. Merit????

They’ll be freaking out about Women’s taskforce of all women in the ministry. Let’s hope they work together and stay bolshie now they have LEVERAGE. PM wedged himself - interesting times ahead.
820. Loyalty to the club.
821. @penbo picks the scab. Remember the Liberal source @andrewprobyn quoted? “This place attracts & rewards narcissists & many narcissists are sociopaths.”

Too many blokes aren’t in it to SERVE & their Party culture is so toxic good people won’t enter arena. Hence @VoicesForAU
822. Time for a Voices4Bowman? LNP can’t be trusted to pick a candidate to serve its electors, obviously. Could blue red and green voters unite behind a quality community independent dedicated to SERVICE? #BowmanVotes #IndependentsDay
823. PMs choice for assistant women’s minister puts hard right at the Women’s taskforce table - gunna be interesting.

Oh, and PM is apparently trying to get her preselected at #BowmanVotes.

Safe seat - big opening for a community independent. Is there a VoicesforBowman?
824. Members of the local #BowmanVotes Liberal branch tried to get rid of Laming before the last election, and are unsurprised at the debacle. The #730Report revealed last night PM intervened to endorse him.
825. It’s TIME for the woman-led ‘Voices for’ movement inspired by #indiVotes and #Warringahvotes - they’re on the hunt for quality moderate liberal community independents blue red and green voters can unite behind to elect ethical MPs who want to SERVE in safe Liberal seats.
826. #BoysClubPM
827. Online program by @WomenElectionOz for women considering standing for public office May 25 and June 1.
828. Qld cops are assessing Crystal White’s formal complaint against Laming. Now what, PM? Now what, #BowmanVotes?

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More from @margokingston1

📣Margo Kingston💧🔥 Profile picture
Feb 28, 2023
There it is. Former DHS secretary Renee Leon said she and 4 other Dept secretaries were sacked by Morrison Govt after the 2019 election because they believed in “frank and fearless advice”.

#Robotdebt
23. This @lukehgomes 2019
gets it a little wrong - Govt decided to #Robotdebt aged pensioners from the start, put those savings into forward estimates, then exempted aged pensioners. Fiscal corruption, yes?

https://t.co/3rVQvQShCbamp.theguardian.com/australia-news…
24. Stuart Robert’s admits Coalition Govt decided in 2016 to subject aged pensioners to #Robotdebt. saving #600 mill.

Now Dutton opposes rich retirees losing a portion of huge tax concessions for income from super balances of more than $3 million. saving $2 bill

Says it all.
Read 95 tweets
📣Margo Kingston💧🔥 Profile picture
May 9, 2022
What a #GroomVotes journey, @SuzieHolt4Groom!

thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/… Image
2. Starting another #GroomVotes thread. Backstory starts here -

3. Good start for the sitting LNP MP in @the_chronicle_ exit poll on day 1 of #GroomVotes pre-polling. Please follow @GillespieTom17, who’s on the ground for the Toowoomba daily.

@SuzieHolt4Groom is third after Labor.
Read 51 tweets
📣Margo Kingston💧🔥 Profile picture
Apr 28, 2022
Here comes @SuzieHolt4Groom!

An explosive report in Toowoomba’s @the_chronicle resets the #GroomVotes campaign, suggesting a big chunk of LNP and Labor voters have switched their support to her.

Will Garth Hamilton still boycott tonight’s candidates forum in Highfield?
2. For the @SuzieHolt4Groom #GroomVotes campaign backstory, my long thread. Starting a new one :)

3. #GroomVotes voters, you can question @SuzieHolt4Groom at tonight’s Toowoomba Busienss Network candidates forum. The sitting LNP has refused to attend - his one and only candidates forum was last night.

#IndependentsDay
Read 14 tweets
📣Margo Kingston💧🔥 Profile picture
Apr 26, 2022
This is what happens when @CUhlmann smears @Mon4Kooyong in a Tweet without context. Terrible loss for @9NewsAUS and voters. A debate in Kooyong with undecided constituents on Nine would have been free to air. But will Josh be game to agree?

#KooyongVotes
2. What the hell is wrong with @abcnews and @9NewsAUS??? Surely a local town hall with undecided local voters is not beyond them? Free to air much better for all voters. 3 times now Murdoch’s Sky - Zali-Abbott 2019, Allegra-Sharma, now maybe Monique-Josh is bloody ridiculous.
3. I thought when @David_Speers joined @abcnews it was in box seat to host a free to air town-hall #leadersdebate pioneered by Sky. To have the first #leadersdebate on a Murdoch cable channel live-streamed by Murdoch media a disgrace.

Will there be a free-to-air #leadersdebate?
Read 4 tweets
📣Margo Kingston💧🔥 Profile picture
Apr 22, 2022
‘Liberal’ Party becoming the US Republican Party before our eyes. Ugly culture wars, glorifying guns, policies for sale to big donors, public service destruction, corrupt govt appointments, the lot.

True liberal voters need to take a stand now to save our faltering democracy.
2. The host of this gun-toting fundraiser for the ‘Liberal’ Party? The biggest supplier of guns etc to OUR Defence Force! Enough merging guardians of the public interest with private profit. Time to stop rampant Canberra corruption in Canberra! Vote to save decent democracy.
3. The proof: What a pleasure it must be for a huge Defence Force supplier - OUR defence force - to host a $5,000 a head gun-toting ‘Liberal’ Party fundraiser. This Govt sells its soul and our democracy very cheap.

We gotta cleanse corruption in Canberra FAST.
#IndependentsDay
Read 4 tweets
📣Margo Kingston💧🔥 Profile picture
Apr 21, 2022
I’ll do a thread on the undecided #WentworthVotes audience questions at the @spenderallegra v @DaveSharma debate.

1. Alllegra, who would you vote for in a hung Parliament? And what about the cost of living?
2. Allegra: I’m open to work with whoever forms Govt. If a hung Parliament it depends what is on the table by both. Whever wins I will work across Parliament for action on climate change, integrity etc.
3. What will you do about the pensioner deeming rate re nursing homes?

Moderator question: Deves?

Sharma: Her comments “reprehensible”. No comment on disendorsement. Admits our laws already allow exclusion of trans women from competitive women’s sport!
Read 17 tweets

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