The exciting times we live in … really?

Max Atkinson’s article ( HERE: Turnbull’s Political Philosophy )in the Tasmanian Times suggests that political parties are principled but the emphasis of those principles may differ and according to that proposition, Malcolm Turnbull is an enigma.

The article further proposes that the PM’s statements,” that everything is on the table” is a deliberate attempt to protect the nation from a singular party crusade and is an endeavor to search for two major party agreements.

So far there have been no observable signs that the PM is looking for two party consensus or a challenge to the Labor Party on principles or even any confrontations with the archaisms of the Liberal right.

The introduction of the recent ‘Innovation Policy’ cannot be perceived to be a challenge to the Liberal right; it does not conflict with any of Tony Abbott’s policies of the far right but might in fact, be an attempt to fulfill the promise of the promotion of small business enterprise at the expense of the taxpayer.

The ‘Innovation Policy’, which is devoid of any details regarding funding or implementation (other than a flippant remark that it could be funded by the cashed up superannuation funds) may be the only thing in conflict with the Neo-Liberal policies of the archaic right.

There is no evidence, as the article suggests there is, that Malcolm Turnbull is challenging the conservatism held by Howard, Hockey and Abetz.

Let us look at some of these supposed challenges –

• On climate change, he stated that coal will be with us for a long time to come.

• On same sex marriage he stated he will follow Tony Abbott’s policy of a referendum after the next election.

• On republicanism, he has fallen silent.

• On a fair tax system and increases for the top end of town and superannuation’s tax benefits there is silence.

• National health, education – silence – but we may well ask how long everything will remain on the table?

As a barrister and as an experienced debater, Malcolm Turnbull can switch easily to either side of a proposition or brief with charm as was evident in the recent ABC interview with Leigh Sales. What his argument lacks though is strong conviction.

Charm and the attributes of agility in debate are valuable assets within factional party politics but leadership needs a vision beyond party politics – a vision which will inspire the swinging voter and the true believers.

The article asks us to curtail our skepticism and reminds us of the shaky power base Malcolm Turnbull has within his Neo-Liberal party, and that there is more than just ambition, there may be better days ahead where his conviction and principles will be revealed.

Looking at the history and how the coup-d’état for the prime minister ship may have eventuated’ there is very little likelihood that any other than Tony Abbott’s policies will be revealed.

As the electorate started to lose confidence in Tony Abbot’s prime minister ship, some of Turnbull’s fellow rats started to get worried about their chances for re-election in 2016 and decided to back Malcolm’s burning ambition to become prime minister.

Because of his ambition, Malcolm traded his personal principles to affect the coup-d’état for the prime minister ship. With a lack of foresight and a limited amount of support, Malcolm Turnbull, with his ambition, is caught naked and without conviction in the cage of an extreme right wing coalition.

The recent lame innovation policy and its nibbling at the edges of Tony Abbott’s previous policies is all that can be expected from the rats caught in the conservative coalition’s right wing archaic and decaying policy draped dungeon.

The often repeated and echoing slogans about the” exciting times we live in”, rising up out of those eerie chambers is not going to release them.

*Bob Lubout is a ‘climate refugee’ from Perth WA. He has been living in Penguin on the NW coast of Tasmania with his artist partner Sandra and their two dogs, Tessie and Winston since 2013. Bob’s work history includes owning his own TV/Electronic repair and maintenance business for many years and travelling all over the world servicing and installing analytical mining and industrial X-ray equipment. He went to Curtin University as a ‘mature age student’ where he gained a Bachelor of Education majoring in Sociology and Politics and then onto Murdoch University where he gained a Graduate Diploma of Science and Technology Policy. This led him to a career as a TAFE lecturer, teaching electronics, maths, science and aviation. Bob now enjoys spending his time researching and writing and flying around this beautiful part of the world in a small aircraft.