PALMER TRUMPS THE GUN
NO one has ever accused Australian politicians of making sense.
The party names alone are a lesson in contradiction.
Labor … the party favoured by unions — who like to go on strike from work. Liberals … the party which so prides itself on conservatism it probably doesn’t appreciate use of the word “pride”. The Greens … who struggle to stay in the black. One Nation … which includes everyone — as long as they’re white. And now we have the United Australia Party … a new political organisation guaranteed to divide us once more.
Seriously, who invited Clive Palmer back to the political party?
Oh, that’s right, he gatecrashed.
The man can’t even come up with his own slogan: Make Australia Great.
Remember the Eddie Murphy classic Coming to America? Palmer is McDowell’s to Trump’s McDonald’s. My apologies to both fictitious and factual fastfood eateries.
He doesn’t even realise that leaving off the “again” turns it into a shady statement: We never were and never will be great without his great big face leading us.
I will be shocked if people fall for his party tricks, but then I was shocked in 2016 when Trump won, so who can tell?
Still, Australians do not suffer fools gladly, nor do we like being taken for one.
It’s not that I think he’s a horrible person or politician, it’s just that he and his money have already had a shot.
I’m not sure what Palmer stands for, I’m not sure he knows either — perhaps he’ll just borrow Trump’s policies, swap out America for Australia and cut a few crucial words out. We can build a wall. Against the rabbits.
I did read with interest, however, his ethos for reentering the political ring: “All Australians are tired of our current crop of politicians.”
Which is probably why his last party failed.
Still, there is truth in that statement. And it’s very much why Trump did win the presidency.
We are so tired of weak leadership. Parliament is like Mean Girls. As soon as the pack scent a whiff of unpopularity, the Queen or King Bee is squashed underfoot.
Being a leader does not mean being loved all the time by everyone. In fact, Trump’s IDGAF attitude is why he’s actually getting stuff done. Not necessarily nice stuff, of course, but he never promised that anyway.
Everyone loves to point the finger at the media. It’s our fault that prime ministers get rolled, that we hold leaders to account for their actions and inactions.
The media is there to report, interpret and analyse. No country should want government without free press (FYI that does not mean you get the stories for free, reporters like to eat too).
But as a journalist and a parent, I know where the real blame lies: social bloody media.
In the good old days, politicians had the results of a few polls to indicate where public opinion lay. Now, it’s live-reflected back at them. It’s paralysis by analysis. Nobody wants to do anything without being sure it will get 10,000 likes. It’s not just politicians.
In his podcast last week, NRL commentator Phil Gould says sporting clubs too are subject to this poisoned popularity. Instead of picking coaches and players based on the advice of those with actual talent, the armchair critics are now actual influencers.
“Social media these days has more effect on (rugby) league and management of league than any other influence … and it’s wrong for them to think that way,” he says.
“That’s not to say fans aren’t important, but you don’t go changing a team just because fans don’t like a player.”
Wise words.
Now let’s pause a moment to accept the fact that I just quoted Phil Gould. The world has truly gone mad.
I’m not advocating that leaders should get into office and then just do whatever the hell they want. But we do need leaders who are not afraid to lead. And we need leaders who want to lead out of love for their community, not out of love for power, fame or money.
It’s a tough and brutal job. You get kicked and kicked again. But you’re there to take that beating for your people, not to get punted up the popularity ladder.
We do need change. I’m just not convinced that Clive Palmer is the change we need.