Family First

Few have succeeded in defending the seemingly indefensible; O.J Simpson’s attorney being a notable exception. Yet I will attempt to make a defence for Wendy Francis, Queensland’s much maligned Senate candidate for Family First.

At the outset – a disclosure. Francis has used my PR company in the past for strategic advice (don’t laugh – I already know what you are thinking) and I assisted her from a media perspective in her campaign to “make the outdoors G-rated” a few months back.

That said, this article is not being written for her, nor does she have any knowledge of it. I am merely adding my perspective to bring some sense of balance and understanding to what has been an extremely one-sided, and in some ways unfair, reaction.

Continue reading "Gay marriage row: in defence of Wendy Francis" »

Wendy Francis is the Family First Senate Candidate in Queensland who caused outrage at the weekend when some highly offensive claims about homosexual couples were posted on her Twitter page.

The @Wendy4Senate account, which displays all outward signs of being the work of the candidate herself, included this doozy: “Legitimising gay marriage is like legalising child abuse,” were posted, with no indication they were written by anyone but Francis.

In the face of national criticism, Francis yesterday put out a statement that was part apology, part claim of media victimhood and part a dump on her own staff.

Continue reading "Blaming your staff makes you the Twit, not them" »

Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott might have turned into cardboard cut-out versions of themselves but there’s still plenty of life left in this election campaign.

It’s always guaranteed to come from the strangest quarters and you can bet it’s the most junior person in the office, or a gung-ho volunteer, who sets the cat amongst the pigeons.

Today’s gem comes from an administrative assistant for the ultra-conservative Family First party, who took it up himself to approach the Sex Party about a preference deal.

Continue reading "Election Sideshow Alley: Where campaign colour lives" »

Australia has one of the best democracies in the world and it’s something we should be immensely proud of. Our democratic system is one which encourages everyone to be involved in the political process, and thus shape the future of this great nation.

However, during this year’s South Australian election the Labor Party threw our whole system in jeopardy. Instead of contesting the election in a fair and open manner, instead of putting faith in their own policies to capture voter support, they chose to engage in a deceptive and misleading campaign by impersonating another party.

It was a disgraceful act and one which bought the whole integrity of our electoral system to its knees.

Continue reading "The Family First farce that shamed our democracy" »