Following
on from my previous blog about the ugly Australia Day protest at The Lobby
Restaurant in Canberra, I find it interesting how things evolve.
It
has become apparent that one of the Prime Ministers junior media advisors, Tony
Hodges and/or the ACT union official Kim Sattler has ‘leaked’ information to
the Tent Embassy protesters, with the view of causing a political incident on
Australia Day.
I
wonder if, wherever they were on that day, and whilst they were sitting there watching
the Prime Minister of this nation being hustled out of a restaurant amidst all
of that terrifying turmoil, that the thought ‘this has gotten a tad out of
control…’ ever crossed their minds…
Mmmm….
This
of course gets my mind working overtime on all of the possibly conspiracy
theories behind it. So, let’s have a look at a couple of them, but remember;
this is just a theory…
Scenario
number one: Big Tony is faring well in
the polls against the PM. The ALP will
take whatever opportunity they can to discredit him in any way, in an effort to
gain ground in the polls. That’s simple
politics.
It
is also a known fact that political media advisors, like Tony Hodges, and even
some MP’s, contact media outlets with suggested questions for interviews with
their opposing MP’s.
Could
it have been possible that the publicity machine has decided to take advantage
of the Australia/Invasion Day issue that’s rippling the water, and contact a
media outlet and suggest the ‘Tent Embassy’ question be addressed to Big Tony
on that predicable Australia Day door-stop interview?
I
originally thought it was odd that Big Tony would be asked something seemingly
so random as ‘What are your views on the Tent Embassy? However, considering the
Tent Embassy was holding a march about the whole ‘invasion day’ issue, and the
debate itself had been running for a couple of weeks, I guess it wasn’t totally
inappropriate…
A
junior media advisor (a perfect patsy) makes contact with someone involved with
the Tent Embassy to tell them that Big Tony has said that he feels the Embassy
should be disbanded and removed (a statement we all know now to be completely
false and untrue). Big Tony and the PM
will be at The Lobby restaurant, and the protesters should confront him there
about his comments.
The
protesters have already been on a march that day, and are feeling empowered and
impassioned, and now they’re already fired up and primed for confrontation.
The
protesters (predicably) storm The Lobby restaurant, create a security risk,
which results in the PM and Big Tony being man-handled out of the restaurant
and into a waiting security vehicle, which speeds away, scattering the unruly
protesters in its wake. All conveniently
in front of the hungry national media.
Pictures
of ‘poor Julia’ are plastered across every form of media, and Big Tony is
painted as a racist fool for speaking so disrespectfully about the Tent Embassy,
and endangering the life of the PM.
The
Prime Minister’s stately control under pressure, consideration for the safety
of her political opponent, combined with the sheer terror she emitted whilst
being ‘removed’ from the restaurant, have her coming out of the whole incident
smelling of roses.
There’s
also the added bonus of making the protesters look completely feral and out of
control, therein damaging the image of the noble cause that the Tent Embassy originally
represented.
It’s
brilliant.
And
it’ nearly worked.
We
then discovered that Mr Hodges, the junior media advisor in question, after
hearing Big Tony’s interview, felt that his comments should be responded to,
and contacted the Unions ACT secretary, Kim Sattler (who is of indigenous heritage)
and asked for her opinion.
This
is where it gets interesting.
Hodges
claims he conveyed to Ms Sattler, Big Tony’s statement accurately, but Ms
Sattler told a different story.
Firstly,
she denied speaking to Hodges at all, and then she changed her story, confirming
that Mr Hodges had indeed contacted her, and suggested that the Tent Embassy
protesters confront Big Tony over his comments.
He also conveniently told her where they could find him.
Then,
Ms Sattler again changed her story,
and confirmed that Mr Hodges had conveyed Big Tony’s comments correctly after
all.
The
blame game begins, and people start ducking for cover; hiding from the fallout
of this terrible incident that could
have become an issue of racism, but instead, looks like an intended political
dint in Big Tony’s armour, gone horribly wrong.
How
quickly the worm turns.
Scenario
number two. What if it was the Liberal
party that planted the media question? What
if they knew that Big Tony’s carefully structured answer to the ‘Tent Embassy’
question would be taken out of context and plastered all over the media?
Usually,
how the media department of a political party works, is that they sit down
every morning and look for the ‘line of the day’. Something that may have been said the day
before, or something that relates to a current issue, that they can pump throughout
the day to hammer home a political point of view.
A
good example of this is the famous ‘there will be no carbon tax under the
government I lead…’ The Liberal party
have banged this drum at every opportunity, and have been incredibly successful
in discrediting the Prime Minister because of it.
What
if the Liberals knew that the ALP would jump on the ‘move on’ comment, and
twist it around to suit themselves?
Take
the ‘shit happens’ comment of Big Tony’s a few years ago. Big Tony was talking to our soldiers in
Afghanistan, and they were talking about manoeuvres being planned and
programmed, but unexpected things happen, and go wrong. Big Tony’s said ‘I agree; shit happens’, and
the soldiers completely related to what he said.
The
ALP were all over it like a fly on shit, taking the comment out of context, and
claiming Big Tony had no respect for our diggers. This completed backfired, and made the ALP
look like fools. The ALP looked
completely spiteful, dishonest and distrustful, and Big Tony just looked like a
mug.
The
truth will eventually come out; it’s something you can never hide from.
The
Liberals could discredit the ALP by claiming that they are again twisting the
words of a man that does work extensively (and privately) with the indigenous
community, and trying to create a racist slur, and in turn, making themselves
look racist for thinking of it in the first place.
I
think I’m clutching at straws on this one, because I don’t think the Liberals
are that smart, and the ALP are doing a fine job of discrediting themselves
without any assistance from anyone else.
The
other conspiracy theory is one I heard on the radio this morning.
One
of the Tent Embassy founders (Michael Anderson I think) suggested that this
entire incident was a political stunt designed to discredit the Tent Embassy,
and lead to its abolition.
Considering
some of the indigenous leaders of the day suggest also that it’s time for the
Tent Embassy to be disbanded, as it’s 20 years past it’s relevancy date, and
has been taken over by a group of people whose views are not aligned with the
indigenous movement, then maybe that’s not a bad idea.
Please
don’t riot my home for me saying that.
What
makes me laugh at this entire situation even more, is that Wayne Swann has come
out over the last couple of days, and slammed Big Tony being completely
negative about the entire situation, by insisting that the AFP (Australian
Federal Police) investigate this matter, as the media advisors leaking the
whereabouts of Mr Abbott and the Prime Minister, breach security regulations,
and risked the safety of not only our two political leaders, but every single
person in The Lobby that day.
I
think Mr Swann has his head firmly inserted in his arse, and his opposing views
have succeeded in making him look like a clown.
So,
this whole episode is turning into yet another political farce, with both
parties pointing the finger at each other, and again, I think Ms Gillard will
be the one that could be lumbered with the fallout from the actions of her
party, yet again.
Ahhhh….
Never a dull day in politics, is there?
Peace
out.
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