The largely confected stink over Tony Abbott’s decision to pass up an opportunity to visit Australian troops in Afghanistan should be the subject of future study by would-be spin doctors, flaks and aspiring massagers of the political message.
It’s a cautionary tale as to the quagmire you can land yourself in should you become vaguely newsworthy during a slow period in the news cycle.
Beyond that, it demonstrates how people in public life have to think carefully when they’re constructing an alibi for dodging what might be seen as an obligation.
The story about Abbott’s refusal to visit Afghanistan isn’t a non-story. But it’s hardly a story which warranted the 72 hours of high-rotation scrutiny it received, in a week when few other events threatened to knock it off the news pages.
But the person, or people, who deserve the credit for that are Tony Abbott and his staff.
Abbott’s silly explanation for not meeting the Diggers failed the front bar test, principally because he is known throughout the land for his physical fitness and endurance.
It’s kind of funny that a bloke who can run triathlons before breakfast and stay awake for the final three days of the election campaign is worried that he might feel a bit frazzled and frayed for a fairly unimportant meeting with an ideological ally in the British Tory Leader and Prime Minister David Cameron.
You’d think the two men are such kindred spirits, on most issues at least, that the Pommy PM wouldn’t mind if his soulmate from Down Under had to stifle the odd yawn or commandeer the percolater.
In the broader community, Abbott’s explanation had the unlikely effect of making him sound like a wuss, to use that evocative Australian term. A bit like the guy who, during a particularly busy period at work calls in saying he’s got a bit of an oomy tummy or a nasty sniffle and won’t be making in.
Liberal MPs said privately this week that they disputed the veracity of Abbott’s explanation. The more logical and likely reason for his non-attendance is that he just didn’t want to arrive in the backdraft of Julia Gillard’s visit, and get a three-second, blink-and-you’d-miss-it mention on the evening news bulletins, tacked on to the end of the reports of the Prime Minister’s trip.
There’s also a theory, which goes to Abbott’s often iconoclastic personal make-up, just he simply thought the trip was a bit of meaningless posturing given that he is not the prime minister anyway.
It’s certainly in keeping with Abbott’s fairly cynical line about some of the stuntier aspects of public life. You can imagine him concluding that the Diggers have got better things to do than pose for the cameras being patted on the back by a fellow who isn’t even running the country, and is already well-established as a strong supporter of the war effort.
Last year just a few days after the Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria I bumped into Abbott on a visit to Parliament House. By way of small talk I said that I’d been moved by some of the speeches members had given about the tragedy. Abbott disagreed, saying that he didn’t think that the Parliament was the proper venue for what he called “emoting”, and should concentrate instead on practical solutions.
It sounded like a hard-headed, even cold remark, but it was one which sat with his well-documented reputation for speaking his mind and going against prevailing orthodoxies, and you have to respect him for that.
Certainly, because of the furore this week, Abbott will be getting to Afghanistan sooner rather than later. His future visit will inevitably recall his failure to do so this week, and will be presented as a mildly shame-faced exercise. Behind the scenes, it will probably also be milked for all its worth by the ALP, as it has done this week with Abbott’s obvious and protracted discomfort over his non-visit.
But again, it was his glib line which got him there, creating a weird little story in the slowest of news weeks, and one which lasted much longer than his jetlag would have.
Facebook Recommendations
Read all about it
Punch live
Up to the minute Twitter chatter
@MickNeven the game is called rugby league not rugby. Just like it's cricket not croquet! Sorry I can't catch ya show.
Recent posts
The latest and greatest
Schapelle has done her time
Schapelle Corby has served more than seven years in Kerobokan prison for attempting to import 4.2 kilos…
Do women need to know when to walk away?
Opposition Leader Isobel Redmond has sparked controversy over her advice that young women should sometimes…
Who murdered the Arts degree?
Have we murdered the liberal arts education? That was the final question on Monday night’s Q&A…
Nosebleed Section
choice ringside rantings
From: They must pay for one’s bitter disappointments
Michael S says:
"A teacher at Geelong Grammar had criticised her for using words that were too long, which had left her confused and had made her doubt her ability to write essays. She became ''quite distressed'' when her English marks began to fall." I can sympathise. My scholastic mentors conveyed to me a causal relationship… [read more]From: Welfare for breeders is a bonus for everyone
Change Up! says:
I have no problem paying my taxes. As a single, childless person on a very decent income, I can afford it and not have my life severely altered. Plus I understand that my taxes paying for things like schools, childcare and infrastructure is ultimately a good thing. A better community is better for me… [read more]Gentle jabs to the ribs
They must pay for one’s bitter disappointments
A private school girl’s family is sueing her elite, extremely expensive private school for not… Read more
Most commented