King Brumby’s tin-pot Raj

Then, in what can only be described as the ultimate denial, he told a gathering of Indian politicians and parents of students still here that the attacks on their nationals, which he didn’t mention were on the increase, were not racially motivated.

What!

The thugs and miscreants who hang around railway stations looking for victims – all who happen to come from the sub-continent -  to belt up and kick and then pinch their laptops and cell phones and money don’t seem to targeting white guys.

As though that wasn’t bad enough, Mr. Brumby then claimed Melbourne was Australia’s safest city. It was hyperbole running riot –as he was speaking a high profile Essendon footballer was allegedly going to town on a Sikh taxi drive and it’s been alleged the player, Michael Hurley, even ripped off the guy’s turban.

Assuming he’s innocent, the fact is the incident did take place and if it wasn’t the 19 yo – who Brumby described as being a “good kid” – somebody took on the driver and again damage was done to the damaged reputation of Australia’s safest city.

Brumby’s denial is deep rooted and his rationale is unbelievable.

He told a local newspaper that “as the bulk of taxi drivers are Indian and if you get into a blue with a taxi driver there’s a fair chance it’s going to be with an Indian – I don’t think you can draw a racial conclusion from that.”

John Brumby’s political speech needs a good rewrite. Mentioning “Melbourne” and “safe” in the same sentence is an oxymoron.  Ever since a previous state government allowed Kerry Packer in a top-secret deal to open Crown Casino the violence marginally increased.

And as new deals – shrouded in secrecy which is called “commercial confidence” – are struck….these days with Kerry’s son James – the violence in areas surrounding the Casino increases and so does the human desolation caused by gambling.

Brumby’s crew recently gave permission for the installation of even more electronic gaming tables – a move which outraged the churches and the anti-gambling lobby.
As a boy at Sunday school, we used to sing a hymn called “Crown Him with Many Crowns” – precisely what John Brumby is doing to young James today.

It’s a pity Brumby’s speech writers hadn’t seen “Underbelly” before putting the safety clause in their bosses lexicon.  Names like Williams and Mockbell don’t engender feelings of fuzzy warmth and security.

It hasn’t been John Brumby’s shining few weeks.

In the middle of the Indian fiasco, he announced that he’s on his way to London to see the Queen and update Her Majesty on the latest news concerning last February’s hideous bushfires which caused so much loss of life.

He told the media the Queen was getting weekly updates from him on the progress being made in rehabilitating the victims, their families and the bush He says she’s very interested in the progress being made.

If this is the case why would he be going to the expense of making a visit to London to tell the Queen what she already knows?

Coming from a Premier with avowed Republican leanings this is strange behavior indeed.

Premier Brumby seems to have the Reeces - he can’t get anything right.

Maybe it’s New Labor - whatever the reason the Victoria premier missed a very big boat by ignoring the matter of the young Indian who skipped bail in Melbourne by travelling back to Delhi on a mate’s passport - skipping bail serious charges, false travel document.

Most people would think with such a serious scenario and with the Federal Police and Interpol in on the act it would be natural for Brumby to ask what was going on? But, no way; instead we get a lame duck mouthful of hyperbole shifting responsibility to others.

Maybe he hasn’t been told that consular officials attached to our embassies and high commissions would know what buttons to press - and they would have told him had he asked.

In all not a good trip for John B .