Gillard’s Australia Day crisis

how can a masters of spin section not actually involve a spin doctor?

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Tony Hodges was obviously “playing politics” by informing the protesters about Tony Abbott’s appearance in the cafe but the focus is all wrong.

It was the protesters who ran amuck & caused the fracas, not Tony Hodges.

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Some great points raised Tim – nice one.

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Yep – all spin and no content.

Beats me why a PM staffer would manufacture a situation that would put the PM in danger.

It’s interesting to compare the vitriol being dished out as this being such a serious breach of security, compared to, say, the SIEV 4 affair.

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Once again a political staffer is used as a skapegoat for pollies to hide behind. The events of Australia Day were an absolute disgrace, yet the actions of the staffer were the least contentious in the whole furore. Politicians have done far worse (hello Craig Thompson) with fewer ramifications.

What about the protesters? Are we too scared to point out how appallingly they behaved for fear of being called racist? Would the police have stood back and made no arrests if the crowd were angry truck drivers or members of the occupy movement? Hardly. At least two of the most senior Indigenous leaders have come out against the violence, but no one else has had the guts to be so vocal.

As the footage was replayed over and over, did anyone else question the way Gillard left the Lobby? Was pushing through the protesters like a rugby scrum in a final really their only option? Furthermore, if the protesters were there to confront Abbott, why did Gillard seem to be the most threatened? Perhaps more significantly, what have the images of our first female PM cowering behind a security guard, who, let’s be honest, isn’t that much bigger than her, done to national opinion about her ability to lead? Suddenly opinion is in favour of a return of the Ruddmeister. Coincidence? I think not.

I agree with Tim this isn’t the last we will hear of this shameful event, but I hope more questions will be asked – and accurately reported – beyond who tipped off whom.

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The sight of both political leaders running looked weak and so wondered why they didn’t stay to discuss the issue.
Ducking and running rather than engaging in discourse suggests the leaders do not wish to lead as much as direct.
A difference in style and one genuine leaders from Pericles on would surely not have adopted.

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Agree with Hannah that you made a lot of sense Tim……compared to Jane Caro who for mine was a bit shrieky and focused on all the wrong stuff.

As for the issue at hand, the larger question for me is the work environment that encourages a junior staffer to act the way Hodges did – the fish rots from the head. All of us should be appalled that cheap political point-scoring is the order of the day in Canberra, not running the country effectively.

And how about the poor misguided Aboriginal activists, conned by their Labor “friends” into a frenzy against Tony Abbott, the result of which has set their cause back years. Tony Abbott couldn’t have done as much damage to the tent embassy and their cause if he had tried.

A stinky affair all around.

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At least it made Canberra interesting for a weekend.

And stopped them talking about carbon emissions and pokies, just for a few minutes.

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the images of our politicians scrambling was quality. we must get more leaks like this one out – if only for their absolutely comic consequences.

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I think I watched loads about this matter because of the tennis… Channel 7 in between the tennis kept reminding me of the special coverage they had… When I watched the ‘special coverage’ it appeared that the so called mob was a frenzy of reporters; leading the charge and filming from a slightly different angle, was Channel 7.

Bored!!!!!!!!

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Laird: “Ducking and running rather than engaging in discourse suggests the leaders do not wish to lead as much as direct.”

The people outside were banging on the windows and shouting. They weren’t there for a discussion. As for ducking and running, that was what was advised by the PM’s security detail. When your security team says get out now, it’s a good idea to listen to them.

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Jane appeared to be trying to spin Julia back into relevance – I could see her pain. She might as well try to spin crap into gold. She also tried to shift the blame onto Abbott. That won’t work any more.
A segment about spinners by spinners. Won’t work.

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They should get Malcolm Tucker on for the next master of spin at Sunrise, I would pay to see him rip Koche a new one.

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Since when is someone from advertising an expert on PR? The gap showed in Jane’s commentary…

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The ALP didn’t only attempt to screw Abbott. They f*cked over their own to do it!

Don’t believe me? Read: Minister angry at young flag burners

http://www.abc.net.au/news/201.....section=nt

This is going to get ugly. All those poo hooing any that are mad the ALP pulled this stunt, be it a junior punching above his pay rate or something more, should take a cold, hard look at what actually has been the concisenesses of this action. This is more than the Liberal response.

I agree with ALP Territory Indigenous Affairs Minister Malarndirri McCarthy . Gillard owes apologies to Australians in general and Aboriginal Australians in particular for those at the tent embassy being used in such a way by anyone in her office and the ALP. She’s the boss. The buck stops with her. It’s too late now for any apology to happen. Gillard is left looking less of a PM in charge and more of just another blame passing politician because of it.

No matter how it’s spun by whom Gillard is gone, and it’s not Abbott or the Liberal party that kicked this off!

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if Julia’s minders are reading this please tell her the word is pronounced “a” not “aye”
and “the” not “thee”. Fix these two things and you’ll just about fix her wooden image.

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Perhaps those here who want to “enlighten” us, with their “expert” opinions on this matter, may care to broaden their knowledge even further by going to the link below….It’s imperative that an open mind is applied though – but then, that might present a problem for some people.

http://www.abc.net.au/mediawat.....424264.htm

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Maaate! Your kidding me!

Because the PM didn’t have the gonads (or was too frightened what he’s spill if she did!) to sack Tony Hodges the Australian taxpayers get to pay the incompetent half-wit a motza to p off!

I’m betting he’s already been shoehorned into a comfy job with great benefits. One befitting a maaate!

… Ms Gillard’s office also confirmed yesterday that former press secretary Tony Hodges, who resigned last month for his role in the Australia Day tent embassy protest, will receive the “standard entitlements accruing to anyone who resigns”….

http://www.theaustralian.com.a.....6264128968

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Martin,
Given that is shouting and banging on windows, fists and words, an offer to talk would have been a reasonable start, particularly given the police presence.
It took 20 minutes to decide to run, negotiation could have stopped that poor decision and clarified the story immediately and defused the decision.
Earlier politicians – Howard on guns, Cairns on Vietnam, as immediate examples, showed courage, regardless of the advice of a security team.
We individually can show the same and certainly any who lead or aspire to lead, need to – or be shown as diminished and weak.

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