Pause to reflect on how lucky we are to have had prime minister Scott Morrison. As Trump consolidates his power, our two-bob secret portfolio saga underlines Morrison’s fortuitous incompetence. His multitude of ministries was a power grab in name only because Morrison was never very good at understanding how to wield power.
Securing control over key portfolios undoubtedly seemed like a genius move at the time. Health, finance, and then in May 2021, just before a Federal Budget that assumed a boost to the bottom line based on preventing Australians travelling overseas for another whole year, the responsibilities for the purse strings and borders.
How does such a “power grab” stay secret?
A Rare Peek Inside the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy New Republic
Former Howard government minister Fran Bailey says she forced Scott Morrison out as head of Tourism Australia because of a “complete lack of trust” and has called on him to quit federal parliament immediately.
In her strongest criticism of the former prime minister yet, Bailey claimed she felt bullied by Morrison and that he had not consulted her on key decisions as managing director of the nation’s tourism body.
Ex-minister who ousted Scott Morrison from Tourism Australia says he must leave parliament
All the cushy, glamour postings seem to go to politicians.
Kim Beazley, Joe Hockey and Arthur Sinodinos have at times been ambassador to Washington.
Jobs for the boys have now become foreign affairs
Barry O’Farrell revealed as John Barilaro’s mystery third referee for $500,000 New York trade post
A majority of NSW voters view the John Barilaro trade appointment scandal as a case of “jobs for the boys” and almost half say it could influence who they will support in next year’s state election.
Premier Dominic Perrottet’s handling of the saga, which has dragged on for 10 weeks, was also criticised by 45 per cent of voters, who felt the issue had been dealt with poorly.
‘Jobs for the boys’: Voters send warning over Barilaro trade scandal
Regarding the stoushes over NSW government trade appointments, Liberal MPs raging against machine politics and agent-generals becoming threatening, it is appropriate to set all this in historical context (“Barilaro doubles down”, August 9). Cushy appointments have always been a carrot for those influential pollies who rock the party boat dangerously. Both port and starboard (to extend the image) have been guilty of scattering ambassadorships, commissionerships and the quaintly titled quangos in front of those who protest too much. Anyone interested in getting their head around a NSW political environment should be required to watch Yes Minister, Utopia and Frontline (at least) as documentaries. They are uncomfortably apropos. Mark d’Arbon, Chittaway Bay
What to do? Start a GoFundMe page? Get GetUp on side? Just give an ehug? The shocking revelation that John Barilaro is the victim in the brouhaha over his appointment as a trade envoy in New York has me in a muck lather over this shocking state of affairs. To confess that I was one of the ignorant doesn’t pass the (ubiquitous) pub test mob. To hear from Barilaro that no one warned him of the potential conflict of interest, or job for the boys’ backlash, is truly disturbing and clearly marks him as the “victim” as he has said. It calls into question the wisdom or loyalty of those with whom he discussed his interest. But I take heart because I suspect such an innocent as he would have been ill at ease in the byzantine murky corridors of international trade. David Hotchkiss, Grafton
Barilaro is blindsided by his sense of entitlement and lack of insight. He sees himself as the victim of the fallout from his appointment to the US trade role. The victims are the two more highly qualified women who were interviewed for the same position and “overlooked”, and the people of NSW. Meg Pickup, Ballina
Barilaro is not a victim. The people of NSW are the victims. The victims of jobs for the boys. What irony there is in Barilaro’s choice of referees for the job. Arthur Sinodinos and Barry O’Farrell are both ex-Liberal politicians in lucrative overseas postings. Hopefully, this whole sorry saga will bring about some real change in politicians’ expectations after retirement from political life. Jo White, Woonona
If politicians want to have a say in the appointment of public servants, such as a trade commissioner, they should do it in the most open and transparent way. For example, by having input into the selection criteria. Having criteria such as “some experience in politics” or “being known in political circles” might be included, but the selection should be left to a publicly appointed panel to make the decision. Of course, politicians think they have been elected to make these decisions. They haven’t. They are there to make policy, and public servants are there to carry out that policy, or to speak out if the policy is flawed. John Pinniger, Fairfield
Revelations about the processes used to appoint Barilaro to a plum government position should alarm anyone seeking employment in the public service through interview. The Upper House inquiry has learnt that late applicants are welcome, if not actively encouraged, that selection panel recommendations are discarded, and that criteria ratings can be altered to ensure a less preferred candidate is appointed. Tony Re, Georges Hall
If former NSW premier Barry O’Farrell and cheerleading journalists who uncritically backed billionaire James Packer’s dream to open a Sydney casino bother to read the Crown inquiry’s detailed report, they should feel embarrassed.
Former Supreme Court judge Patricia Bergin’s damning investigation paints a picture of politicians and other influencers – who should have known better – helping to swiftly change the laws in 2012-13 to grant Packer’s wish for a six-star casino on prized public land at Sydney’s Barangaroo.
Crown report exposes ‘power of money’ and lobbying
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Back in July 2006, Scott Morrison was forced out as managing director of Tourism Australia. For 16 years, mystery has surrounded exactly why. Various accounts have been published, based on “off the record” briefings. Exactly what happened has been hush-hush.
The late Tim Fischer, former deputy prime minister, was the chair of the Tourism Australia board at the time. He consistently refused to answer questions about what triggered Morrison’s dismissal. Former prime minister John Howard has blamed “a clash of personalities”.
‘I was gobsmacked when he became prime minister’
In her book The Secret, about the rise and spectacular fall of the former NSW premier, journalist Alexandra Smith says some former staffers described working for Ms Berejiklian as like working for the (Armenian) Queen.
Inside story of how Gladys Berejiklian 'held a torch' for her boyfriend for YEARS and why her secret love affair destroyed a friendship - as staff say working for her was like working for the Queen
Morrison and the Book of Revelation: the signs of conspiracy are everywhere, people!
A PM who believes in signs, myths and a god who anointed him, advises a G-G to prorogue Parliament... Come on! It's not that farfetched!
