The Dead Roo

Johny is in campaign mode. Our dear leader spent Wednesday and Thursday this week were spent doing what the more cynical of us might call election campaigning. There was a “mental health funding” announcement in Burnie, a speech for the sake of having a speech in Bass and a couple of matching press releases.

The speech in Bass was rather telling. Normally Howard speeches have a distinct topic. They are all intended to tie in with the governments topic of the day, designed to get a soundbite or two into the national media.

This speech had no topic, the earlier speech in Burnie did not tie in with the topic of the day at all. So what is going on?

Lets take a look at the Bass speech. It’s blathers on about a number of seemingly disconnected topics.

It talks about federal funding for a flood levy in Launceston.

It talks about the wonderful work of the local Liberal member.

My friends, in coming here today the first and most important thing I want to say to you is to commend Michael Ferguson as a wonderful and energetic member for the electorate of Bass in the national parliament.
…
you have in Michael Ferguson a first class federal member, a bloke who’s worth supporting, a fellow who’s worked very hard for your local community

It talks about improved economy and employment prospects, which in turn ties in with forestry.

And it appeals to parochialism:

[Commenting on the “need” for forestry] And you don’t like being told by people in another part of Australia, who don’t experience some of those challenges, how you should organise your affairs and how you should lead your life.

So to answer my question, what is going on, why was Howard off topic?

Howard was in Tasmania suring up those seats the Liberals won in 2004, traditionally Labor seat’s like Bass, held marginally by Ferguson. His actions didn’t hit the national media and weren’t meant to, instead they were intended to dominate the local media.

The speech may appear scatter brained to the outsider, but in the media of a place like Launceston is pushes all the right buttons. 1. a bit of pork, 2. a reminder about Labor’s forestry policy of 2004 and the threats of high unemployment, and 3. trying to connect Labor with those meddling Greenies who come from inter-state and tell us how to live our lives!

This quote says it all:

[Michael Ferguson is] a man I hope you’ll think of towards the end of this year when you have an opportunity to give practical effect to the view that you might have of Michael Ferguson, your wonderful local member.

Share This