[A Thread] My observations on @TurnbullMalcolm at the #RobodebtRC: Turnbull as PM proved to be completely spineless as Party leader and National leader. He was probably Australia's most disappointing PM. Because he lacked courage. #auspol 1/5
Leaders need courage. They need to do the right thing, even if it is not the popular thing, and that takes courage. Ask @DanielAndrewsMP - he has courage in spades and used every bit of it during the pandemic. #RobodebtRC#auspol 2/5
The first real public glimpse of Turnbull's invertebrate nature was seen when he stood on stage with @HonTonyAbbott announcing the destruction of the #FTTP#NBN. His body language said he knew this was wrong, but had to follow orders. #RobodebtRC#auspol 3/5
Morrison as Social Services Minister concocted #Robodebt then funded it as Turnbull's Treasurer. Despite his protestations, Morrison must have known of the scheme's illegality. But again he lacked the testicular fortitude to confront Morrison. #RobodebtRC#auspol 4/5
How many Australian lives would have been saved if Turnbull had had the guts to be a leader, not just wear the title? Turnbull failed in his most fundamental duty as PM - to protect the lives of Australians. For this he must be condemned. #RobodebtRC#auspol 5/5
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[A Thread} The odious #JohnHoward is a demigod in @liberalaus circles. While the Libs opine on @AlboMP's "broken promise". Let's review some of the desiccated coconut's own litany of lies;
#auspol 1/12
The Lie: “It is our policy, without qualification, to retain Medicare . . . Not only does Medicare stay but so does bulk billing . . . They are the fundamentals, the underpinnings of the policy.” and “Medicare will be retained in its entirety.”
#auspol #JohnHoward 2/12
The Truth: The Howard Government abolished the dental plan and bulk billing rates declined by more than 12 percentage points after the Coalition took office in 1996.
Long ago capitalists put in place a system of laws regarding the trading of public stocks and the timely and accurate release of information that would impact stock prices and/or their growth. #auspol #VoteYes 1/6
They did so to give themselves a level playing field. Strict penalties apply for breaches. #auspol #VoteYes 2/6
A parallel can be made with our democracy. Democracies only work if voters are provided with accurate and timely information on which to base their vote. This is the role of the media and the politicians themselves. #auspol #VoteYes 3/6
[A short thread] The fuss about @DanielAndrewsMP not taking journalists with him to China is a manufactured story by the journos themselves. They are not being "excluded" - they are more than welcome to travel there and report on Andrews if they so wish. #auspol 1/4
It seems to have been sparked by a few Murdochistas who suggest because Andrews is not inviting them, he must be hiding something. Given the way they have treated Andrews over the last few years it's no surprise he won't make it easy for them. #auspol 2/4
In fact one could argue that this knee-jerk response (and misrepresentation) by the journalists is exactly why Andrews has NOT invited them. He is going to China for back-to-back meetings on behalf of Victorians, not photo-ops. #auspol 3/4
[A Thread] The #Teals have always been moderate Liberals at heart. Their stance on super contributions should surprise nobody. There has been a myth that they are lefties because they took seats off Liberals. #auspol 1/4
The #Teals took Liberal seats off moderate Liberals who had been neutered by the ultra-conservative religious right faction within the Liberal Party. That doesn't make them lefties, just unencumbered Liberals. #auspol 2/4
The Murdoch media has also taken the line that the #Teals are lefties, because they support action on #climatechange. This too is a Furphy. The climate change debate is about science vs fiction/conspiracies. It's not about economic systems. #auspol 3/4
[A Thread] Today is modern New Zealand's birthday; #WaitangiDay. Today commemorates the day in 1840 when the Treaty was first signed between Great Britain and many (but not all) Maori Tribal Chiefs. #auspol#nzpol 1/7
The treaty gave sovereignty to Great Britain, but guaranteed Maori land, resource rights and political representation - all of which are still in place today (despite challenges along the way). #auspol#nzpol 2/7
Culturally, NZ Maori were far closer to European culture than Australian First Nations People. They had a common(ish) language, recognised land ownership, political hierarchies, had permanent villages and farming, and formal warfare. #auspol#nzpol 3/7
Alcohol in indigenous communities has been problematic for as long as anyone can remember. Nor is it unique to Australia. I've seen it in Inuit communities in Canada and Greenland. #auspol 1/8
In 2012, the Gillard Labor government implemented its Stronger Futures program to help address the issue in the NT. It did not eliminate the problem but it certainly significantly reduced it to more manageable levels. #auspol 2/8
Stronger futures was a 10 year fully funded program. It expired in mid 2022 under the Morrison Liberal "government", that refused to renew it, choosing to save money by winding it up. As a direct result alcohol induced crime increased again. #auspol 3/8